England 1 Brazil 2 (England National Football Team)

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Product:	England National Football Team
Date:	21/06/02 (1 review reads)
Rating:

Advantages: + Got far

Disadvantages: + poor 2nd half

Ronaldinho fired Brazil into the World Cup semi-finals today, a stunning freekick clinching a come-from-behind 2-1 win over England in Shizuoka.

But the Paris Saint Germain starlet will have to sit out the semi-final showdown against either Senegal or Turkey after getting himself controversially sent off just seven minutes after his goal.

Brazil's fightback turned the match on its head after Michael Owen put England ahead with a cool right-footed finish past keeper Marcos after defender Lucio miscontrolled a lofted pass from Emile Heskey.

It was the Liverpool star's 18th goal for England and his second of the tournament.

Thereafter, England's Brazilian jinx struck again with a vengeance as they failed to beat their South American rivals for the fourth time in four World Cup meetings.

The two nations were meeting in the finals for the first time since a memorable 1970 encounter which Brazil won 1-0.

The Brazilians have gone on to lift the trophy on all three occasions they have faced England, the other meetings coming in 1958 and 1962.

England failed to build up on the lead gifted them and were shellshocked after Brazil, playing in their away strip of blue but with their style unmistakeable, hit them with goals either side of the break.

Rivaldo struck a brilliant equaliser deep into first-half stoppage time and that marked a sea-change in the fortunes of both sides.

The Barcelona superstar slotted his fifth goal of the finals seconds after a brilliant mazy run by Ronaldinho.

Rivaldo didn't even break his run as he swept a left-foot shot beyond David Seaman and into the England net.

But if that goal seconds before the interval left the game poised on a knife edge it was nothing compared to what followed in the opening period of the second half.

Paul Scholes fouled Kleberson some 40 yards out on the Brazilian right and Ronaldinho flig
hted the ball over Seaman and into the far corner of the net after the England shotstopper had left his line.
Seaman was very unlucky with this as he was expecting a cross, he was ready to spring out and deal with that but the ball flighted to the top left Conner of the goal, goal of the tournament possibly. There was much speculation over this did he mean to or didn?t he.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson withdrew Trevor Sinclair and sent on Kieron Dyer in an attempt to provide more of an attacking impetus. And brake down the Brazilian defence.

But before the Newcastle star could make an impression the Brazilian midfield were left a man short, Mexican referee Felipe Rizo Ramos showing Ronaldinho a harsh red card for a challenge on Danny Mills.

Brazil made a surprise change as Ronaldo gave way to Cruzeiro's Edilson.

England gambled with a final throw of the dice in withdrawing Owen for Darius Vassell with 12 minutes remaining and Teddy Sheringham for fullback Ashley Cole.

But a Nicky Butt header over the bar was their best chance as the sands of time ran out on Sven-Goran Eriksson's side.

Eriksson lamented his side's failure to make the extra man count in the final half hour.

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