Fantasy futebol

Brilliant Brazil sends home Costa Rica in style

Brazil's Juninho outruns Costa Rica's Mauricio Solis. AP

SUWON, South Korea (Reuters) -- Brazil thumped Costa Rica 5-2 on Thursday to reach the World Cup's second round with a maximum nine points and eliminate its brave opponent in an exhilarating game full of flowing football.

The four-time champion, favorite for another world title after the shock exits of France and Argentina, played brilliantly in the first half and scored five goals in a finals match for the first time since the 1958 final against Sweden.

Ronaldo maintained his record of scoring in every game as Brazil took its first-round goals tally to 11, the most it has ever mustered in the tournament's opening phase.

It led 3-0 with an own goal and one each for Ronaldo and Edmilson, but Costa Rica pulled one back through Paulo Wanchope late in the first half and made it 3-2 from a Ronald Gomez header.

Stat Summary Costa Rica     Brazil  2  Goals  5  17  Shots  12  9  Shots on goal  7  15  Fouls  6  14  Corner kicks  6  0  Penalty kicks  0  3  Offsides  8  1  Own goals  0  0  Yellow cards  1  0  Red cards  0  47%  Ball possession  53%  27  Actual playing time  30     Attendance: 38,524     MATCH SUMMARY

Two goals in two minutes for Rivaldo and Junior settled the issue but Costa Rica, needing a draw or a narrow high-scoring defeat to go through, had several more opportunities as it carved through a ragged Brazilian defense. (Goal feast masks defensive flaws)

However, it could not get the extra goals it needed and bowed out of the tournament with four points behind Turkey. (Turkey beats China, makes second round)

Brazil, with earlier victories over Turkey and China, joined Spain as the second team to qualify with maximum points and will play Japan, Russia, Belgium or Tunisia in the second round.

"We understand that people see us as favorites, but we don't think that ourselves," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said. "We have to keep our calm and we have to reach each game with our concentration very high.

"We did show some problems in our defense but we are aware of them and will work hard to correct them."

Costa Rica had the first clear opportunity when Mauricio Wright headed over the bar after nine minutes.

But instead of taking a shock lead, within a minute Costa Rica fell behind when defender Luis Marin, desperately trying to beat Ronaldo to a low Edilson cross, poked the ball into his own net.

Three minutes later it was 2-0 as Ronaldo seized on some hesitant defending by Harold Wallace after a near-post corner to score his third goal of the tournament with a low shot.

Walter Centeno then sliced horribly wide from close range and Wright headed over again after slack marking from the Brazilian defense.

Overhead kick

Edmilson then gave a lesson in finishing seven minutes before the break, swivelling mid-air to score with a spectacular overhead kick from a deflected Junior cross.

Costa Rica pulled one back almost immediately when striker Paulo Wanchope played a clever one-two with Wright before scoring with a deflected low shot.

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In first-half injury time Rivaldo hammered a free kick against a post, Junior knocking the rebound inches wide.

Two great tackles by Gilberto Martinez soon after the restart prevented further Brazilian goals and Costa Rica took heart and launched a series of attacks.

Anderson Polga cleared a Wanchope shot off the line and goalkeeper Erick Lonnis tipped over a rising Carlos Castro shot.

The pressure paid off in the 56th minute when second-half substitute Steven Bryce clipped in a superb cross from the right which Ronald Gomez met with a diving header.

That strike could have been enough to send Costa Rica through on goals scored but its dream disappeared as Brazil struck twice in two minutes.

In the 62nd minute Rivaldo turned in a low Junior cross and Junior himself added the fifth with a firm shot from 10 meters after breaking clear of the defense. (Roberto Carlos impressed by understudy Junior)

"Our attack was excellent but we had a lot of problems at the back," Junior said. "Costa Rica created a lot of chances. We have to correct these mistakes."

Still Costa Rica came back, Wright agonizingly unable to force in the rebound after a mis-hit Junior clearance struck a post and Rolando Fonseca shooting inches wide.

Costa Rica coach Alexander Guimaraes, born in Brazil but now a naturalized Costa Rican, was full of praise for his players.

"Of course we are disappointed to be leaving the World Cup but I am very proud of the way we have played here," he said.

"Today was my last game as Costa Rica coach because my contract ends," he added. "We will have to wait and see what will happen now."

Brazil makes changes, Costa Rica drops Fonseca

Left-back Roberto Carlos, who has complained of a pain in his calf muscle, was rested in what the team doctor had described beforehand as a precautionary measure.

He will be replaced by Junior, who makes his first appearance in a World Cup match.

Central defender Roque Junior and attacking midfielder Ronaldinho, who were both booked against China, was also left on the bench, apparently to avoid the risk of them picking up another yellow card and being suspended from the second round.

Edmilson, who played against Turkey but was dropped against China, returned for Roque Junior while Edilson stepped in for Ronaldinho.

Costa Rica named the same team which started the 1-1 draw against Turkey.

This means that there is no place for its record-goalscorer Rolando Fonseca, who has been left out in favor of Greek-based Ronald Gomez, who partners Paulo Wanchope up front.

Score Summary:

Costa Rica 2 Brazil 5 - result

World Cup, group C

Scorers:

Costa Rica - Paulo Wanchope 39, Ronald Gomez 56

Brazil - Luis Marin 10og, Ronaldo 13, Edmilson 38, Rivaldo 62, Junior 64

Yellow cards:

Brazil - Cafu 90

Halftime: 1-3; Attendance: 38,524

Teams:

Costa Rica (3-5-2): 1-Erick Lonnis; 5-Gilberto Martinez (12-Winston Parks 74), 4-Mauricio Wright, 3-Luis Marin; 15-Harold Wallace (16-Steven Bryce 46), 8-Mauricio Solis (7-Rolando Fonseca 65), 6-Wilmer Lopez, 22-Carlos Castro, 10-Walter Centeno; 9-Paulo Wanchope, 11-Ronald Gomez

Brazil (3-5-2): 1-Marcos; 3-Lucio, 14-Anderson Polga, 5-Edmilson; 2-Cafu, 8-Gilberto Silva, 16-Junior, 19-Juninho (7-Ricardinho 60), 10-Rivaldo (23-Kaka 72); 9-Ronaldo, 20-Edilson (15-Kleberson 57)

Match referee: Gamal Ghandour (Egypt)

Linesmen: Wagih Farag (Egypt), Egon Bereuter (Austria)

 

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