Brazil find form at last
Brazil find form at last
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Thursday, 22, Jun 2006 10:43
The world champions Brazil finally found form and powered past the Japanese with a 4-1 win to top Group F, with maligned striker Ronaldo getting on the scoresheet twice.
Japan shocked Brazil by opening the scoring but the cup favourites finally managed to play some decent football and eased away from their opponents.
Keiji Tamada latched on to a through ball from Brazil-born Japan left-back Alex and while Lucio was daydreaming he smashed it beyond Dida into the top corner.
Brazil were stung into action and they conjured an excellent equaliser just before the interval. Ronaldinho found right-back Cicinho at the far post, his header across goal was met by Ronaldo who made it 1-1.
In the second half Brazil moved up a gear. Juninho, the Lyon midfielder, made it 2-1 after an error from Japan keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi. The former Portsmouth stopper was brilliant in the first half, but he flapped at the long range blaster and Brazil were ahead.
Gilberto then made it 3-1 as he burst down the left flank and struck a firm low drive into the far corner of the net.
The final word came from under-fire Ronaldo who finished in his traditional clinical manner from the edge of the area to complete the rout.