Ronaldo Sends Brazil into Third Straight World Cup Final

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, June 27, 2002

Ronaldo Sends Brazil into Third Straight World Cup Final

Ronaldo scored his sixth goal of the tournament to help Brazil beat Turkey 1-0 in their World Cup semifinal Wednesday in Saitama. The four-time winners will vie for the championship with Germany, the team the Brazilians have never met in the World Cup history.

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Brazil Beats Turkey 1:0

Ronaldo scored his sixth goal of the tournament as Brazil subdued Turkey 1-0 to advance into their third straight World Cup final on Wednesday.

The four-time winners will vie for the championship with Germany, the team the Brazilians have never met in a World Cup.

The match-winner came in the 49th minute as Gilberto Silva broke down the left wing and delivered the ball to Ronaldo, who, flanked by two defenders though, flicked a quick shot from 15 meters into the net with his right toe.

The goal raised Ronaldo ahead of teammate Rivaldo and Germany Miroslav Klose, with five apiece, on the "Golden Boot" race.

Ronaldo said his team had had to fight all the way against tenacious rivals.

"Turkey were well-organized. They are a very good team who deserved to be in the semi-finals," he said.

"I took the only chance we really got in the second half. And I scored the goal in the style of Romario," said Ronaldo, referring to his the 1994 hero Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari dumped for this finals.

"I got an important goal. But the final will be very difficult, " said Ronaldo.

Turkish substitute Ilhan Mansiz said his team had wasted a few good chances to equalize.

"We started well and we managed to keep the game close. Even when we went down to an unfortunate goal at the beginning of the second half, we were not demoralized," said Ilhan.

"We had several good opportunities to score, but we could not use them. I wish Brazil success in the final."

Edilson, who replaced the suspended Ronaldinho, came within a whisker of giving Brazil a second goal in the 58th minute as his shot went out of the left post.

Turkish captain Hakan Sukur missed an equalizer as his three- meter shot on a long cross was tipped out by Brazilian goalkeeper Marcos in the 81st minute.

Turkey, making their only second appearance in the finals, had matched Brazil end to end in the first half.

Alpay Ozalan forced Marcos into a spectacular diving save with a glancing header in the 20th minute.

Brazil responded with Cafu and Roberto Carlos threatening Turkey goal.

In the 23rd minute, Turkey keeper Rustu Recber blocked Rivaldo' s angled blast and Ronaldo's follow-up shot from five meters.

At the 28th minute, Hasan Sas broke all the way down the left flank and fired his shot wide of the net.

At the 34th minute, Recber saved Rivaldo's powerful shot from 25 meters. Two minutes later, Rivaldo, keen to be the top scorer of the tournament, hit narrowly wide of Turkey goal.

In the 43rd minute, Carlos broke into the penalty box and fired into the arms of Recber.

Teams:

Brazil (3-5-2): 1-Marcos; 3-Lucio, 5-Edmilson, 4-Roque Junior; 2-Cafu, 8-Gilberto Silva, 15-Kleberson (13-Belletti 85),6-Roberto Carlos 10-Rivaldo; 9-Ronaldo (21-Luizao 68), 20-Edilson (17- Denilson 75)

Turkey: (4-5-1) 1-Rustu Recber; 4-Fatih Akyel, 3-Bulent Korkmaz, 5-Alpay Ozalan; 22-Umit Davala (13-Muzzy Izzet 74),8-Tugay Kerimoglu, 10-Yildiray Basturk (6-Arif Erdem 88),18-Ergun Penbe, 11-Hasan Sas, 21-Emre Belozoglu (17-Ilhan Mansiz 62); 9-Hakan Sukur

Referee: Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)

Linesmen: Maciej Wierzbowski (Poland)

Igor Sramka (Slovakia)

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