Ronaldo scored his record 15th World Cup
goal Tuesday, and Adriano and Ze Roberto added two more to give Brazil a
3-0 win over Ghana and a spot in the quarterfinals.
Ronaldo became the tournament's all-time leading scorer in the fifth
minute when he scored after a brilliant step-over that beat a defender
and then Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson. The striker broke the offside
trap near midfield after a perfectly timed pass from midfielder Kaka.
Brazil, which will face either France or Spain in the quarterfinals on
Saturday in Frankfurt, is in the last eight for the fourth straight time.
It won the title last time.
Adriano added to Brazil's lead in a breakaway in first-half injury time,
using his left thigh to complete a right-flank cross from captain Cafu.
Defender Lucio started the play at midfield, giving the ball to Kaka,
who then found Cafu on the right side.
Replays showed Adriano appeared to be offside when he touched the ball
into the net. Fans heavily booed when the big screen at the stadium
showed the replay.
It was Brazil's 200th World Cup goal.
Ze Roberto added the third goal in the 84th, getting past Kingson and
finding the open net.
After allowing the early goal, Ghana pushed forward and pressured Brazil,
which was forced to rely on counterattacks.
Although Brazil threatened, the Ghanaians had most of the scoring
chances throughout the match, only being stopped by a solid performance
by Brazil goalkeeper Dida.
Ghana outshot the Brazilians 25-21, and striker Matthew Amoah had two
good chances in the 24th, first just missing a pass from Draman, then
shooting wide of the net from the top of the penalty area.
Asamoah Gyan came close in the 35th, sending a shot from inside the area
over the crossbar, and in the 69th, when his shot from near the penalty
spot was saved by Dida.
Gyan also had his 79th-minute shot from inside the area stopped by Dida.
John Mensah had one of the match's best opportunities with a close-range
header in the 42nd, but it was miraculously saved by Dida with his right
foot.
Brazil improved slightly late in the match and veteran wingers Roberto
Carlos and Cafu both had chances to add to Brazil's lead.
Ghana played a physical match from the beginning, picking up four yellow
cards in the first half alone. It had two others in the second half.
Gyan was sent off in the 81st for diving. He already had received a
yellow card.
While Brazil is seeking a record sixth title, Ghana was trying to become
only the third African team to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Senegal did it in 2002 in
South Korea and Japan, and Cameroon made it in 1990 in Italy. No African
team has reached the semifinals.
Playing in their first World Cup, the Africans finished second to
three-time champion Italy in Group E, which also included the United
States and the Czech Republic.
Brazil came into the match boosted by a convincing 4-1 win over Japan,
when coach Carlos Alberto Parreira fielded five reserve players to rest
some of the regular starters.
The regulars were recalled for Tuesday's match even though many in
Brazil had wanted Parreira to keep some of the second stringers in the
lineup after they performed well against Japan.
Defenders Roberto Carlos and Cafu, midfielders Emerson and Ze Roberto,
and striker Adriano were back after sitting out last Thursday. Cicinho,
Gilberto, Gilberto Silva and Juninho returned to the bench.
Brazil could not count on striker Robinho because of a thigh injury,
while Ghana was missing suspended midfielder Michael Essien. The
Africans had the return from suspension of key midfielder Sulley Muntari
and Gyan.
___
Lineups:
Brazil: Dida, Cafu, Lucio, Juan, Roberto Carlos, Emerson (Gilberto da
Silva, 46th), Ze Roberto, Kaka (Ricardinho, 83rd), Ronaldinho, Adriano (Juninho,
61st), Ronaldo.
Ghana: Richard Kingson, John Mensah, Emmanuel Pappoe, Illiasu Shilla,
John Pantsil, Stephen Appiah, Sulley Muntari, Matthew Amoah (Alex
Tachie-Mensah, 70th), Eric Addo (Derek Boateng, 60th), Haminu Draman,
Asamoah Gyan. |
