Asia PR News

DORTMUND, 27 June /KYODO/ –

Ronaldo set a new scoring record with his 15th goal in World Cup finals as
Brazil moved into the last eight after a 3-0 win over valiant Ghana in Dortmund
on Tuesday.

The Real Madrid star’s fifth-minute opener, which broke Gerd Mueller’s
all-time scoring record of 14, gave Brazil a dream start and Adriano nudged
home the second in first-half stoppage time before Ze Roberto completed victory
with a late third.

"It was never my goal to be the World Cup’s all-time top scorer and it just
came little by little. But I am happy because Brazil are winning and I am
scoring," said Ronaldo.

Brazil’s quarterfinal opponents will be the winner of the match between
Spain and France, who face off in Hanover later in the day.

Ronaldo set the wheels in motion when he raced on to a through ball from
Kaka and dummied Ghana keeper Richard Kingston but it was all Ghana until
Adriano, in for the injured Robinho, made it 2-0 with a controversial second.

With Brazil appearing content to sit on their lead, Ghana created a raft of
chances with Haminu Draman forcing an excellent save from Dida in the 19th
minute.

The Africans’ best opportunity came three minutes before the interval when
John Mensah contrived to head a corner straight at a relieved Dida from six
meters.

And Ghana were punished for their wastefulness in the first minute of added
time when Adriano bundled home after a swift counter attack, although
television replays showed the Inter Milan striker was marginally offside.

The goal sparked a furious reaction from Ghana’s players and coach Ratomir
Dujkovic was sent off from the bench for arguing with referee Lubos Michel.

Brazil had never conceded to an African nation at a World Cup but that
nearly changed in the 69th minute when striker Asamoah Gyan’s curling shot
brought a superb one-handed stop out of Dida.

Ghana almost gifted Brazil a third with 10 minutes when Kingston had to
react quickly to keep out a header from teammate John Pantsil.

The Black Stars, who were missing star midfielder Michael Essien, were then
reduced to 10 men when Gyan was given his second yellow for a blatant dive and
their misery was complete when Ze Roberto beat Kingston to the ball and tapped
into an empty net.

"I said to my players this would be a difficult game because it is the
round of 16 and if you lose you are out and we knew that Ghana is a very good
team," said Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, a onetime Ghana coach.

"People will look at the result and think it was easy but it was not. But
3-0 is okay to go to the quarterfinals," he added.

Dujkovic said he was proud of his players but could not hide his
disappointment at Brazil’s second goal being allowed to stand.

"I am very proud of my players. They fought from the beginning of the first
game to the last minute of today’s match,"’ said Dujkovic.

When asked what he said to the referee at halftime, Dujkovic, said, "I told
the ref he should have been wearing a yellow jersey. I have never been sent off
before but I am not angry with him anymore."