The Hindu : Brazil rides on Ri-Ro strike force

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, Jun 18, 2002

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Sport - Football

Brazil rides on Ri-Ro strike force

Brian McBride (20) of the U.S. scores past a hapless Mexican goalkeeper Oscar Perez (centre) and his team-mate Jesus Arellano during their second round match in Jeonju on Monday — Reuters

KOBE (Japan) JUNE 17. Four-time champion Brazil withstood a stubborn Belgium on Monday for a 2-0 victory to reach the World Cup quarterfinals on Rivaldo's 67th- minute goal and Ronaldo's clincher in the 87th.

Brazil, the only Latin American team left in the World Cup, faces England on Friday in Shizuoka, Japan. Spain, England, Senegal, Germany and the United States had already reached the quarterfinals with the final two spots decided Tuesday.

Like Brazil, Rivaldo was shut down for much of the match. But in the 67th he scored a goal worthy of the World Cup stage.

Taking a long pass off the right wing from Ronaldinho, Rivaldo settled the ball with his chest, touched it with his left foot, spun to face the goal, let it bound once, and ripped an 18-meter (yard) half-volley that deflected slightly off Belgian midfielder Timmy Simons and rocketed home behind 'keeper Geert De Vlieger.

With Rivaldo having scored his fourth of the World Cup finals, Ronaldo scored his fifth 20 minutes later, taking a pass from Klebersonoff off the wing on a counterattack and scoring from 10 metres (yards).

With the victory, Brazilian fans unfurled a sign that read: ``England Here We Come — God Help The Queen.''

Brazil, the favourite to win its fifth title with Spain the No. 2 choice, seems to be peaking at the right time.

``The World Cup actually begins now,'' Ronaldo said. ``From now on every match will be a final, like today's. Today it was wonderful, the support from the crowd, seeing that huge yellow-green mass in the stands.''

``I think it's going to be a better match with England because they come stronger in attack. It's going to be a match among equal forces. I was not worried at not having scored so late in the match. You have to wait and run and try till the very last minute. Hope is the last thing that dies.''

Brazil fielded its regular 11. Belgium was missing starting defender Glen De Boeck, who was replaced by Timmy Simons.

Wilmots' header disallowed

Belgium, which had more than its share of chances, seemed to have gone ahead in the 36th when Marc Wilmots headed a cross from 8 metres (yards) behind Brazil 'keeper Marcos. But Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast disallowed the goal, ruling the Belgian had impeded Brazilian defender Roque Junior.

``We played a great match but made one mistake in defence that preceded the first goal,'' said midfielder Bart Goor.

Asked about the disallowed goal, he said: ``It was a great goal. I'm not sure whether that was a foul''

Not content to stick back and defend, Belgium came out attacking.

After just 37 seconds, Belgian striker Mbo Mpenza looped an 18-meter (yard) shot that Marcos had to leap high to deflect over the bar.

Brazil, with David Beckham leading a delegation of English players at the match, began to get more and more chances after about 15 minutes.

In the 19th Ronaldinho ran by several defenders and then dished the ball off to Ronaldo, who shot high and wide from 18 metres (yards).

In the 23rd, Ronaldo cut the ball back to Rivaldo, who kicked a volley from 6 metres (yards) high. In the 24th after Belgian Yves Vanderhaeghe picked up a yellow card, Ronaldinho blistered a 25-metre free kick that a Belgium defender deflected wide.

Ronaldo had two more chances in the 37th and 39th. On the first, he kicked the all into the face of sliding Belgium 'keeper De Vlieger from point-blank range. The second was a missed volley from close in. In the closing seconds, Ronaldo and company were also peppering the Belgian net.

But that was about to change.

In the 63rd, Mpenza cut the ball back to Wilmots whose shot from 15 metres (yards) was swatted away by Marcos' left hand as he dived right to make the save, setting the stage for Rivaldo's winner.

Belgian coach Robert Waseige sent in Wesley Sonck in the 73rd hoping to spark a last-minute rally.

The line-ups:

Brazil: 1-Marcos, 2-Cafu, 3-Lucio, 4-Roque Junior, 5-Edmilson, 6-Roberto Carlos, 8-Gilberto Silva, 9-Ronaldo, 10-Rivaldo (Ricardinho 90), 11-Ronaldinho (15-Kleberson 81), 19-Juninho (17-Denilson 57).

Belgium: 1-Geert De Vlieger, 5-Nico Van Kerckhoven, 6-Timmy Simons, 7-Marc Wilmots, 8-Bart Goor, 10-Johan Walem, 11-Gert Verheyen, 15-Jacky Peeters (9-Wesley Sonck 73), 16-Daniel Van Buyten, 18-Yves Vanderhaeghe, 22-Mbo Mpenza.

Referee: Peter Prendergast (Jamaica).

* * *

Wilmots bids adieu

KOBE JUNE 17. For a second, it seemed Marc Wilmots had scored his greatest ever goal. Too bad it didn't stand.

An hour later, his long international career was over.

At 33, his knees chronically battered by injury, Wilmots still rose over Brazil's tall Roque Junior in the 36th minute of their World Cup second round match and with a header as forceful as any in his career, he knocked the ball past goalkeeper Marcos.

In his last tournament, the Schalke 04 all-rounder was convinced he had given the World Cup another massive jolt as the Red Devils had scored against the overwhelming favourite.

At that point, Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast moved in to disallow the goal for what might have been the slightest of pushes, and with it went Belgium's chances in the tournament.

``There was a referee, a decision. It was human,'' said Wilmots afterwards, taking the 2-0 loss, and his retirement philosophically. — AP

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