 |
QuarterFinal Brazil-Denmark Rivaldo's magic sinks Denmark |
 |
Rivaldo scored a pair of superb goals, one in each half, as World Cup holders Brazil stormed into the semi-finals with a 3-2 win over plucky Denmark at the La Beaujoire Stadium on Friday night.
Martin Jorgensen shot Denmark ahead after just 90 seconds but ace Brazilian striker then Ronaldo turned provider by setting up strikes for Bebeto and Rivaldo before halftime. Brian Laudrup equalised for the Danes after the break before Rivaldo sealed the victory with a superb shot from 25 metres out after 60 minutes.
The Brazilians were brilliant as they secured a meeting with the winner of Saturday's Holland v Argentina game in the semi-finals in Marseille on Tuesday night.
They joined hosts France, who beat Italy 4-3 in a penalty shootout after a 0-0 draw earlier on Friday, in qualifying for the final four.
Brazilian coach Mario Zagallo had said the day before the match that his side were capable of playing "fantasy football" and his players lived up to Zagallo's expectations in short bursts.
The defending champions, seeking a record fifth World Cup title to add to those they won in 1958, 1962, 1970 and 1994, sometimes played with a swagger reminiscent of great Brazilian sides of the past.
The Danes opened the scoring, though, when they caught the Brazilians napping with a piece of quick thinking.
Dunga conceded a free-kick for a foul on striker Peter Moller and Danish skipper Michael Laudrup took the kick right away, with the Brazilians still in disarray. He freed his brother Brian down the left.
Brian Laudrup promptly squared the ball back across the penalty area for Jorgensen to sweep it past the helpless Taffarel.
It was disappointing start for the goalkeeper, making a record 16th appearance in a World Cup finals match, but his misery was short-lived and he was rarely troubled again apart from picking Laudrup's equaliser out of the back of the net.
It took Brazil less than 10 minutes to get back on level terms. Dunga found Ronaldo in midfield and the striker conjured up a superb through ball that split the Danish defence wide open. Bebeto ran onto the pass, controlled the ball with one with one touch and then drove it low and hard past the outstretched Peter Schmeichel from just outside the area.
Ronaldo was again the creator when the Brazilians took the lead after 26 minutes. His angled pass to free Rivaldo inside the box was precision-perfect and the midfielder took the chance with relish, chipping the ball cleverly over the advancing Schmeichel.
Two minutes later, a Ronaldo cross from the right after a clever shimmy had the Danish defence at sixes and sevens.
Although Taffarel had to stop a smart shot from Moller after 36 minutes, clearcut chances were few and far between for the Danes despite some quick and clever build-up work.
Substitute Stig Tofting hammered a shot high and wide four minutes after the interval and then the Danes grabbed an unlikely equalizer.
Roberto Carlos tried to clear a deflected ball inside the area with a reckless and unnecessary bicycle kick. He missed the ball completely and Brian Laudrup, lurking behind him, hammered the ball first time into the roof of the net.
Rivaldo's decisive goal on 60 minutes was all class. Dunga was the provider and the Barcelona player hammered a low shot into the net with a blistering low left-foot shot.
The Danes replaced Moller with Ebbe Sand on 67 minutes and the striker was clearly annoyed, gesticulating wildly as he made his way to the bench.
Brazil largely cruised through the final 20 minutes -- apart from allowing defender Marc Reiper to place a late header onto the crossbar and over -- but will regret a yellow card earned by wing back Cafu for time wasting that will rule him out of the semi-final.
Denmark were playing in only their second World Cup finals and had never previously made the last eight, but while the 1992 European champions are a gifted side, few teams can stay with Brazil when they are in this mood.
The countries had met three times previously, with Denmark having won twice, but this time there was no way back after Rivaldo's masterful strike even though goalkeeper Schmeichel joined the attack in the dying minutes.
