2002 FIFA World Cup (tm) Finals - Results & Fixtures - Brazil vs Belgium

17 Jun 2002


Brazil	2 - 0	Belgium
	(HT: 0 - 0)

Game Details
Venue Kobe Wing Stadium	Attendance 40440
Referee Peter Prendergast (JAM) Assistant Referees Yuri Dupanov (BLR) Mohamed Saeed (MDV)

Game Events
#	Date	Player	Event	Period	Mins	H/A
1	17 Jun 2002	Yves Vanderhaege	Yellow Card	First Half	24	A
2	17 Jun 2002	Roberto Carlos	Yellow Card	First Half	28	H
3	17 Jun 2002	Juninho Paulista	Player Out	Second Half	12	H
4	17 Jun 2002	Denilson	Substitute In	Second Half	12	H
5	17 Jun 2002	Rivaldo	Goal	Second Half	22	H
6	17 Jun 2002	Jacky Peeters	Player Out	Second Half	27	A
7	17 Jun 2002	Wesley Sonck	Substitute In	Second Half	27	A
8	17 Jun 2002	Ronaldinho	Player Out	Second Half	36	H
9	17 Jun 2002	Kleberson	Substitute In	Second Half	36	H
10	17 Jun 2002	Ronaldo	Goal	Second Half	42	H
11	17 Jun 2002	Rivaldo	Player Out	Second Half	46	H
12	17 Jun 2002	Ricardinho	Substitute In	Second Half	46	H

Match report

Brazil defeated Belgium 2-0 to fire the South American favourites into a mouth-watering World Cup quarter-final showdown with England. A 67th-minute deflected effort from Rivaldo and a breakaway goal from Ronaldo three minutes from time settled a hard-fought battle which saw Brazil firmly on the back foot for long periods in the second half.
"Every game is a final in the World Cup and the World Cup starts in your next game," a satisfied Ronaldo said afterwards.
"But anyway we are very happy for our supporters who were so colourful and noisy here today.
"Against England it is going to be a very close match. It is an excellent quarter-final and tomorrow we will begin studying tactics."
Belgium created several clear chances and were unlucky to have a Marc Wilmots goal disallowed early on. Struggling to find an answer to Belgium's tight defence and tireless tackling in midfield, Brazil got the breakthrough they needed midway through the second half. Ronaldinho chipped across the right to Barcelona star Rivaldo, who controlled on his chest, took one touch and then struck a venomous shot on the half-volley. Belgium keeper Geert De Vlieger had time to react but a wicked deflection off Timmy Simons left him stranded and the ball flew into the net to spark relief and celebrations amongst the Brazilians. The goal was cruel on Belgium, who had dominated Brazil at times and asked questions of the four-time winners' defence, identified as a possible weakspot during their comfortable first-phase campaign. England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and his captain David Beckham, among the crowd with several other members of the squad, will have taken note as they prepare for what promises to be a classic in Shizuoka on Friday. Brazil's killer goal came with Belgium chasing an equaliser and throwing caution to the wind in defence. A swift breakout saw the ball swept upfield in the 87th minute and Ronaldo bagged his fifth goal of the tournament to make him joint top scorer with Miroslav Klose of Germany. Earlier goalkeeper Marcos had rescued Brazil just after the hour mark, when a Belgian counter-attack put Mbo Mpenza clear down the right, who cut back to Wilmots on the edge of the area. The Schalke 04 player attempted to bend a lofted shot into the far corner of the net but Brazil's keeper was equal to the challenge, parrying wide. Moments later Rivaldo scored Brazil's first and Belgium were chasing the game. Brazil had looked in control throughout the opening 45 minutes at the Kobe Wing Stadium although Belgium twice went close to scoring. Skipper Wilmots was unlucky to have what looked a like a fine headed goal disallowed when Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast adjudged he had impeded Brazilian defender Roque Junior when leaping to meet a Jacky Peeters cross. Mpenza had also gone close for the Belgians in the opening minute, with an audacious attempt to chip Brazilian keeper Marcos. The Mouscron striker's effort forced Marcos to scramble back and palm the ball over the bar to deny what would have been a sensational goal. Otherwise it was all Brazil as underdogs Belgium dropped deep and waited for openings on the counter. A good early Brazilian chance came when Ronaldinho jinked through the Belgium defence before rolling a pass to an unmarked Ronaldo near the edge of the area, the Inter Milan star's curling shot flying just past the top corner. The South Americans, who had said before the game they hoped to secure a quick victory, continued to attack the Belgians with gusto. Ronaldo carved out an opening when he burst down the left side of the penalty area and crossed for Rivaldo, only for the Barcelona player to send an acrobatic attempted volley hurtling over the bar.

(courtesy of dailysoccer)




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Page created by Christakis Ioannou on 17 June 2002 18:22:05.