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ULSAN, South Korea (Ticker) -- Brazil scored on a controversial penalty kick and displayed its typical spectacular play in a much-deserved 2-1 victory over Turkey in a Group C encounter. A bad call by Korean referee Kim Young Joo led to a spot kick converted by Brazilian midfielder Rivaldo in the 87th minute. Substitute Luizao had his shirt pulled from behind outside the area, but the forward motion carried the fall in the box, fooling the referee. Alpay Ozalan, who committed the infraction, was red carded as he already was issued a yellow card earlier in the game. Rivaldo made no mistake on the ensuing penalty kick, putting the game-winner to the Turkish goalkeeper Rustu Recber's left side. The Barcelona player also crossed for striker Ronaldo, who met the ball while airborne inside the box to level the game at 1-1 five minutes into the second half. "I am relieved we came from behind to win the match because when Turkey took the lead I was a bit worried," said Rivaldo, a former World Footballer of the Year. Seconds earlier, Edmilson had a superb solo run of some 75 yards before passing to Rivaldo, who found Ronaldo on the right side. But Recber made the save on Ronaldo's finishing shot. Despite dominating play from the start of the game, the Brazilians trailed, 1-0, at halftime. Hasan Sas was unmarked at the end of a Yildiray Basturk long ball and booted a left-footed half volley into the back of the net two minutes into stoppage time. Brazil missed several great offensive opportunities in the half as Juninho, Rivaldo, Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho all came close to scoring but were foiled by the excellent play of Recber. Ronaldo dished to Juninho who missed the target wide left. Ronaldo, the former two-time Player of the Year, accelerated on the left flank with his usual flair and set up Rivaldo for a header. Recber reacted well to stop the ball in front of the goalline. Ronaldo and Rivaldo combined in the middle before Rivaldo elected to shoot from 25 yards in the 42nd minute. Roberto Carlos had one of his free kicks from 33 yards out stopped by Recber two minutes later. And Ronaldinho escaped solo in the box, but missfired into a diving Recber. Turkey's Hakan Unsal was sent off for kicking the ball at Rivaldo three minutes into added time. Unsal was already playing with a yellow card received in the first half. Unsal had a powerful long range free kick on target in the 59th minute as Turkey's best scoring chance in the second half. Turkey coach Senol Gunes complained there was "a great injustice" done. "We wanted three points but could not get them for reasons I won't mention," he said. "We have six points to get and we are going to get them," Gunes added. Turkey's remaining games are against Costa Rica and China. |
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