|
Brazil into Semis After Beating England
 |
|
Brazil
fans celebrate their country's victory over
England
.
|
SHIZUOKA,
Japan, June 21 (News Agencies) – With two goals from Ronaldo and
Ronaldinho, Brazil qualified for the semi-finals of the World Cup
Friday, June 21, with a 2-1 win over England.
Brazil
will play either Senegal or Turkey in Saitama, Japan Wednesday, June
26, for a place in the final.
However,
Ronaldinho will have to sit out the semi-final showdown against either
Senegal or Turkey after getting himself controversially sent off just
seven minutes after his goal.
Brazil
survived this controversial dismissal of the game's key figure, and
deservedly won to become the first team to reach the last four,
according to BBC’s online news service.
Brazil's
fightback turned the match on its head after Michael Owen put England
ahead in the 23rd minute with a cool right-footed finish past keeper
Marcos after defender Lucio miscontrolled a lofted pass from Emile
Heskey, who had seen his Liverpool colleague make the run.
It
was the Liverpool starlet's 18th goal for England and his second of
the tournament.
Thereafter,
England's Brazilian jinx struck again with a vengeance as they failed
to beat their South American rivals for the fourth time in four World
Cup meetings, AFP said.
The
two nations were meeting in the finals for the first time since a
memorable 1970 encounter which Brazil won 1-0.
The
Brazilians have gone on to lift the trophy on all three occasions they
have faced England, the other meetings coming in 1958 and 1962.
England
failed to qualify for U.S.A. 94, when Brazil bagged their most recent
triumph.
The
samba stars now look poised for a fifth success after overcoming what
looked like their biggest remaining obstacle.
England,
chasing a second World Cup success after 1966, failed to build up on
the lead gifted them and were shell-shocked after Brazil, playing in
their change strip of blue but with their style unmistakable, hit them
with goals either side of the break.
Rivaldo
struck a brilliant equalizer deep into first-half stoppage time and
that marked a sea-change in the fortunes of both sides.
The
Barcelona superstar slotted his fifth goal of the finals seconds after
a brilliant mazy run by Ronaldinho.
Rivaldo
didn't even break his run as he swept a left-foot shot unerringly
beyond David Seaman and into the England net.
But
if that goal seconds before the interval left the game poised on a
knife edge it was nothing compared to what followed in the opening 13
minutes of the second period.
Paul
Scholes fouled Kleberson some 40 meters out on the Brazilian right and
Ronaldinho promptly flighted the ball over Seaman and into the far
corner of the net after spotting the England shotstopper had left his
line.
England
coach Sven-Goran Eriksson withdrew Trevor Sinclair and sent on Kieron
Dyer in an attempt to provide more of an attacking impetus.
But
before the Newcastle star could make an impression, the Brazilian
midfield were left a man short, Mexican referee Felipe Rizo Ramos
showing Ronaldinho a harsh red card for a challenge on Danny Mills.
Brazil
made a surprise change as Ronaldo gave way to Cruzeiro's Edilson.
 |
|
England
goalkeeper David Seaman broke down in tears seconds after the
final whistle.
|
England
gambled with a final throw of the dice in withdrawing Owen for Darius
Vassell with 12 minutes remaining and Teddy Sheringham for fullback
Ashley Cole.
But
a Nicky Butt header over the bar was their best chance as the sands of
time ran out on Eriksson's side, skipper David Beckham unable to
conjure a last-gasp moment of inspiration.
Brazil
coach Luiz Felipe Scolari had sprung a surprise before kickoff in
leaving out former Middlesbrough midfielder Juninho despite his inside
knowledge of the English Premiership.
But
Atletico Paranaense's Kleberson filled in admirably.
Meanwhile,
England captain Beckham said it would be an "absolute
disgrace" if goalkeeper Seaman was made the scapegoat for the
teams' defeat to Brazil.
Seaman
broke down in tears seconds after the final whistle knowing it was his
blunder that let Ronaldhino score direct from a 35-yard free-kick in
the Brazilians' narrow 2-1 victory.
With
most of the favorites already out, the South American superstars now
have a great chance of winning their fifth world title, BBC said.
|
