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Brazil's woes continue Japan wins Confederations Cup group after 0-0 draw
Updated: Monday June 04, 2001 7:11 PM
IBARAKI, Japan (AP) -- Brazil again failed to solve its scoring woes, stumbling to a 0-0 tie with a mixed Japanese squad on Monday to end the first round of the Confederations Cup. The tie set up a rerun of the 1998 World Cup final between Brazil and France in a semifinal meeting Thursday in South Korea. Japan, which finished first in the group, faces Australia in the other semifinal in Yokohama. In a curious reversal of their roles as master and apprentice, it was the Japanese who provided the carnival. The Brazilians, who needed a point to clinch a spot in the semifinals, labored for the goal they haven't found in two matches. "Sometimes you create a lot and get few positive conclusions. Sometimes you create two chances and convert both," said Brazilian coach Emerson Leao, who offered the same reasoning after his team tied 0-0 with Canada on Saturday. "We just have to keep playing on the attack." The game meant little to the Japanese, who already had guaranteed the home field in the semifinals. French coach Philippe Troussier rested five of his starters and turned the match into a party for its fans. For the first time in the tournament, the 41,800 seats in Kashima Soccer Stadium were nearly full. Thousands of fans in blue Japanese jerseys outcheered, outchanted and outdrummed the subdued Brazilian supporters. "This is a great achievement to give to the Japanese people," said Troussier. "This week was a good week." Brazil, missing its top stars because of injuries and club commitments, was grim and tense. Needing a point to qualify, the Brazilians came out biting on defense and pressing the Japanese in their own end. The game wasn't two minutes old when reserve goalie Ryota Tsusuki mishit an attempted clear and popped it up to Leandro at the edge of the area, but his shot sailed over the bar. The Japanese drew wild cheers as they traded passes in midfield, but they failed to threaten 'keeper Dida. It was the 13th minute before Shinji Ono got the first shot on goal, and it hit the side of the net. Brazil missed two incredible chances just two minutes later, when Perugia defender Ze Maria raced up the right sideline and crossed to Washington in the goal box. But Tuzuki kicked out his point-blank shot to Carlos Miguel, and the defense cleared his shot off the line. The Brazilians got testier when they couldn't get a call from Danish referee Kim Neilsen and were repeatedly whistled for questionable offsides. Lucio and Ramon were yellow-carded for complaining. Washington had a miserable night. Ze Maria fired in a perfect cross in the 26th minute, but Washington whiffed on the shot and then tripped on the ball when he tried to recover. Five minutes later, Ramon came up with the night's prettiest play. Leandro, starting in place of the injured Sonny Anderson, chested the ball to the Fluminense striker, who tipped it up between two defenders and fired a bicycle kick that sent Tsuzuki leaping backward to tap it over his bar. AS Roma midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata provided Japan's inspiration and only firepower. He forced Dida to make his first save at 35 minutes, then crossed set up Yoshiteru Yamashita, who slid in just late to tap it wide of the near post. Brazil almost got on the board in injury time. Washington took a pass at the top of the area and headed backward to Leandro, who put a header earmarked for the upper left corner. But an elastic Tsuzuki leaped to make the save of the half. "Luck? It's not just that. Maybe we're missing a little tranquility, too," said Leao. "We have a lot of young players trying prove themselves on the national team, and they could be trying a little too hard." The second half was more of the first, with Brazil coming tantalizingly close to the goal but finding ways to miss. Robert came in for Carlos Miguel in the 73rd minute, and two minutes drove to the left baseline and sent a cross that bounced off the crossbar. Leandro had the best look, when Washington dribbled straight into the penalty area and found him uncovered before an open net, but his shot went high. Four minutes from time, Nakata tested Dida with a blistering free kick, then commanded a breakaway that Edmilson broke up with a tripping foul that earned him a yellow card. Brazilians know the scoring drought has to end if they hope to reach the final. "No, against France, the ball is going in," pledged Ze Maria. "Enough is enough." Lineups: Brazil: Dida, Ze Maria, Lucio, Edmilson, Leo, Leomar, Fabio, Carlos Miguel (Robert, 73), Ramon (Julio Baptista, 62), Leandro and Washington (Magno Alves 80). Japan: Ryota Tsuzuki, Kenichi Uemara, Naoki Matsuda, Toshihiro Hattori, Yasuhiro Hato, Hidetoshi Nakata, Teruyoski Ito, Tomokazu Myojin, Shinji Ono (Koji Nakata, 46), Yoshiteru Yamashita (Masashi Nakayama, 60) and Takayushi Suzuki (Hiroaki Morishima, 46)
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