Brazil Eliminates England by 2-0, Roaring to Semi-finals

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Friday, June 21, 2002

Brazil Eliminates England by 2-0, Roaring to Semi-finals

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Brazil Eliminates England by 2-0 to Advance into Semi-finals

Brazil got goals either side of half-time from Rivaldo and Ronaldinho to come from a goal behind and eliminate England. The four-time champions move on to face the winner of Turkey and Senegal in the semi-finals.

Attacking midfielder Ronaldinho had an eventful match in Shizuoka, setting up the first goal, scoring a remarkable second from a free-kick, and then being sent off just minutes later. Sven Goran Eriksson's men got a goal from Michael Owen to take the advantage.

The two sides felt each other out for the lion's share of the opening ten minutes. Barcelona's Rivaldo tried a speculative drive from just outside the box, but it came to nothing as both sides continued to sputter (6').

Brazil did their best to surge into a trademark samba, but the English were massed in huge banks at the back looking to hit out on the break. A Roberto Carlos free kick from way out took a big deflection and skipped just wide of David Seaman's post (14').

A good bit of work between Ronaldo and Ronaldinho at the edge of the box ended in a tricky shot from Ronaldo, but Seaman was well down to keep the swerving right-footed shot out (19').

But a bit of confusion at the Brazil back line gifted Michael Owen the match's first goal. A long ball in from Emile Heskey was controlled poorly by Brazil defender Lucio. The bouncing ball fell directly to Owen at the edge of the box and the golden boy marched in and finished well past a hapless Marcos (0:1, 23').

For the remainder of the half Brazil tried desperately to drag themselves back into the match, but it was Heskey who went closest to scoring as his looping header just barely skipped over the bar (31').

And at the last Brazil hit back with a bit of absolute brilliance. A long, mazy run through midfield by Ronaldinho opened up the England defence. A quick touch to Rivaldo in the box, and the midfielder hammered the ball into the corner of the net (1:1, 47'+).

Brazil hit out straight away after the break looking to go up on the English. And it didn't take long as a devilish free kick from Ronaldinho from 28 yards looped in over Seaman's head (1:2, 50').

A goal down, it was up to England to rally back, and Heskey's quick ball across the goal mouth nearly caught the Brazil defence in a nap (53').

And in a rush of blood England looked to have caught a break as Ronaldinho, the hero of the match for Brazil, was given his marching orders for a studs-up challenge on Danny Mills (57'). The Brazilian danger man pleaded his case to the official, but in the end left the pitch surely feeling hard done by.

Danny Mills hit out down the flank on a mission. A good turn inside the box from the fullback opened up some space for a shot. The try took a deflection and sailed over the bar, but the English were beginning to look a bit more dangerous on the attack (74').

Despite being a man down, the South Americans kept possession and control through the meat of the second half. The English, with the responsibility of attacking on their shoulders, never looked quite up to the task as they went tumbling out of the finals.

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