Japan v Brazil - Match Report

Brazil survive scare, Ronaldo joins Muller as goal king

Brazil wrapped up their World Cup Group F campaign with a 4-1 win over Japan here on Thursday as an energised Ronaldo emerged from his shell to score the two goals that made him joint all-time World Cup top scorer with Germany's Gerd Muller.

The win made it three wins out of three and secured a last 16 meeting with rank outsiders Ghana.

But the samba stars had to react after Keiji Tamada smashed home Japan's opener against the run of play on 34 minutes.

Ronaldo nodded the champions level seconds before the break to move ahead of Pele in the goal stakes.

A Juninho piledriver and Gilberto's neat finish within 15 minutes of the restart and a neat Ronaldo swivel and shot wrapped up the contest.

With Brazilian legend Zico in their coaching hotseat the Japanese, needing a win to have any hope of reaching the last 16, refused to buckle under the early pressure from the men in yellow.

Ronaldo, criticised for sluggish showings in the narrow wins over Croatia and Australia, almost broke his tournament duck twice in the opening 20 minutes as he finally began to look like the man whose eight goals, including two in the final, won Brazil the title four years ago in Japan.

On seven minutes he took a neat pass from Ronaldinho and fired in a snapshot which Japanese keeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi blocked with both hands.

Kawaguchi then did even better to get a hand to a low drive as Ronaldo motored past two defenders before letting fly, the enthusiasm which had been singularly lacking in the previous matches now coursing through the Real Madrid striker's veins once more.

Japan had to thank Kawaguchi for another brilliant stop as he tipped over a fierce effort by Juninho after 23 minutes.

But then came a majestic finish from Tamada as Japan chased after a repeat of their "miracle," 1-0 win over Brazil in the first round of the 1996 Atlanta Olympics.

Tamada lashed home left-footed past stunned keeper Dida after Brazilian-born Alex flipped a nonchalant through ball to him as the holders conceded their first goal in the group action.

The watching Pele slumped in his seat in the stands as Zico leapt off the bench, his hands aloft, as his decision to drop blunt forwards Naohiro Takahara and Atsushi Yanagisawa for Tamada and newcomer Seiichiro Maki and bring in Juniichi Inamoto for midfielder Takashi Fukunishi seemed set to pay off.

With six points in the bag Brazil, bidding for a sixth title, had felt able to ring the changes, classy Lyon midfielder Juninho starting out as coach Carlos Alberto Parreira rested yellow-carded captain Cafu and Emerson as well as defender Roberto Carlos and striker Adriano.

Two beneficiaries were Ronaldo clubmates Robinho and Cicinho, who both fired over before Tamada gave Brazil work to do.

But Ronaldo nodded in after Cicinho headed on a Ronaldinho cross as referee Eric Poulat prepared to put his whistle to his mouth.

Juninho's blockbuster and then a crisp left-footer from Gilberto on the hour allowed Parreira to send on Ricardinho and Ze Roberto for Ronaldinho and Kaka in the closing stages with the match having slipped beyond their rivals and Ronaldo then claimed his second.