The Hindu : Rivaldo's late penalty gives Brazil victory

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 04, 2002

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Sport - Football

Rivaldo's late penalty gives Brazil victory

Brazil's Ronaldo scores the first goal for his team past Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber in a Group C match of the World Cup football tournament at the Munsu Football Stadium in Ulsan on Monday. Turkey's Bulent Korkmaz is also seen.— AP

ULSAN (South Korea) JUNE 3. Brazilian star Rivaldo netted an 87th-minute penalty on Monday as the four-time world champion came from a goal down to beat Turkey 2-1 in the opening game of World Cup football Group C.

Rivaldo rocketed his penalty into the corner after the referee judged that Alpay Ozalan had pulled down Luizao inside the area.

Ozalan, Turkey's deepest defender at the time, was shown a red card for the incident. Team-mate Hakan Unsal was also sent off in injury time.

Earlier, Ronaldo netted a 50th-minute equaliser, connecting with Rivaldo's curling cross from the left wing to volley past Turkish keeper Rustu Recber from eight metres (yards).

Turkey had taken the lead when Hassan Sas scored at the close of the first half, latching onto Yildiray Basturk's deftly timed 20-metre through ball and lashing it home from close range.

``When you start losing, it's always extremely difficult,'' Rivaldo said, ``but I had full confidence in my team-mates that we would be able to turn the match around, as we did.''

The Brazilians took most of the first half to get into their stride. Their first chance came in the 40th minute when Ronaldo escaped two defenders down the left side and sent a left-footed cross to the center of the area. Rivaldo came in and sent a downward header goalward, but Recber dived to his right and scooped the ball off the line.

Moments later, Ronaldo powered a left-footed drive that brought another flying save from Recber. In the 44th minute, Ronaldinho slalomed around the last Turkish defender, burst into the area and saw his shot blocked by the Turkish goalkeeper's outstretched leg.

Turkey's only other chance came in the 19th minute, when Tugay Kerimoglu took a pass from a free kick and lashed in a shot that deflected off Brazil defender Gilberto Silva and flew inches over the bar.

Brazil pushed forward from the start of the second half, searching out an equaliser. After Ronaldo's goal, the Brazilians got into their stride, with Roberto Carlos, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Lucio all earning good chances to put them ahead.

Turkey, playing in its first World Cup since 1954, stayed back in the second half, creating few chances.

Costa Rica and China, which play on Tuesday, complete Group C.— AP

AFP reports:

Emerson in tears

A shattered Emerson broke down in tears today as he told of the seesawing emotions he was experiencing after a freak training ground accident forced him out of the World Cup. ``It is very difficult for me,'' the Brazilian captain said at the team's hotel here as he cradled his right arm in a sling. ``It is very painful to not be part of team. We're all very close and only if you are in my position can you understand how painful this really is.''

The AS Roma midfielder dislocated his shoulder when diving to stop a shot while acting as goalkeeper in Brazil's final training session on Sunday before its opening Group C match against Turkey.

With tears rolling down his cheeks, he said he blamed no one but himself. ``I went to see the coach and volunteered to play in goal,'' he said. ``It was I who decided. We are footballers and we are exposed to this type of thing.''

The Brazilian delegation has called up Ricardinho of Sao Paulo-based club Corinthians as a replacement and he is expected to arrive in the next day or so. Emerson said he would remain with the team for at least the first round to offer encouragement. ``I will stay to give them my support,'' he said.

Emerson is highly regarded by coach Luiz Felipe Scolari and his injury is a major blow to Brazil.

Reuters adds:

Penalty an injustice:

Turkish coach

A late penalty that cost Turkey a 2-1 World Cup opening match defeat at the hands of Brazil was an injustice, Turkish coach Senol Gunes said. ``We came here with pride and we played the game with pride...we had a great effort but we couldn't get what we deserved,'' he told reporters after the match.

``There is an injustice in the result, I have to say that, an injustice,'' he added. Gunes said his team gave too much away. ``In the first half, we played good but we gave away many opportunities to Brazil. In the second half, we tried to control the game and we did so. But again we gave away two goals that we shouldn't have.''

Gunes said his side deserved better. ``We deserved one point. We didn't get it because of some other reasons which I don't want to mention now. We have two games left. We'll try to get the points to take us to the knockout stage,'' he added.

He said Turkey had set itself the target of nine points from three games. ``We have six points to get and we're going to get the six points by playing the best we can,'' he added.

The teams:

Brazil: Marcos, Cafu (c), Lucio, Roque Junior, Edmilson, Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Silva, Ronaldo (Luizao, 74), Rivaldo, Ronaldinho (Vampeta, 72) (Denilson, 67), Juninho.

Turkey: Rustu Recber, Bulent Korkmaz (Ilhan Mansiz, 66) Fatih Akyel, Alpay Ozalan, Tugay Kerimoglu, Hakan Sukur (c), Yildiray Basturk, (Umit Davala, 65) Hasan Sas, Umit Ozat, Hakan Unsal, Emre Belozoglu.

Referee: Kim Young-joo, South Korea.

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