KOBE, Japan – Four-time champion Brazil defeated Belgium 2-0 on Monday
with second-half goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldo, advancing to the
quarterfinals of the World Cup.
Like Brazil, Rivaldo was shut down for much of the match by a determined
and stubborn Belgium team. But in the 67th minute he scored a goal
worthy of the World Cup stage.
Taking a long pass off the right wing from Ronaldinho, Rivaldo took the
ball on his chest, touched it with his left foot and spun to face the
goal. He let it bounce once and shot from 18 yards out, the ball finding
the net after deflecting off the foot of Belgian midfielder Timmy Simons.
It was Rivaldo's fourth goal of the World Cup.
Twenty minutes later, Ronaldo scored his fifth goal of the tournament,
taking a pass from the wing on a counterattack and scoring from 10 yards
away on a low, hard shot that skidded under goalie Geert De Vlieger.
Brazil, the only Latin American team left in the tournament, faces
England on Friday in Shizuoka, Japan. Spain, England, Senegal, Germany
and the United States had already reached the quarterfinals. The final
two spots will be decided Tuesday.
With the victory, Brazilian fans unfurled a sign that read: "England
Here We Come – God Help The Queen."
"The World Cup actually begins now," Ronaldo said. "From now on every
match will be a final, like today's. Today it was wonderful, the support
from the crowd, seeing that huge yellow-green mass in the stands."
Brazil fielded its regular 11. Belgium was missing starting defender
Glen De Boeck, who was replaced by Simons.
Belgium, which had more than its share of chances, looked as if it had
scored in the 36th minute when Marc Wilmots' header beat Brazil goalie
Marcos. But Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast disallowed the goal,
ruling the Belgian had pushed Brazilian defender Roque Junior as the two
jostled for position.
"We played a great match but made one mistake in defense that preceded
the first goal," Belgian midfielder Bart Goor said.
Asked about the disallowed goal, he said: "It was a great goal. I'm not
sure whether that was a foul "
Belgium spent much of the time on attack, getting a scoring chance less
than a minute into the game.
Belgian striker Mbo Mpenza looped a shot that Marcos had to leap high to
deflect over the bar.
With David Beckham and other English players watching from the stands,
Brazil began to get more and more chances after about 15 minutes.
In the 19th minute, Ronaldinho ran by several defenders and dished the
ball off to Ronaldo, who shot high and wide from just inside the box.
Minutes later, Ronaldo cut the ball back to Rivaldo, who kicked a volley
high from 6 yards out.
Ronaldo had two more chances toward the end of the half. On the first,
he kicked the ball into the face of a sliding De Vlieger from
point-blank range. The second was a missed volley from close in.
Brazil struggled to find its rhythm to open the second half with Wilmots
and Mbo Mpenza pressing in the Belgium half. In the 55th minute, Marcos
raced out of his box to make a key save on Mpenza.
