Ronaldo Equals Gerd Muller's Goalscoring Record

Home: World Cup Finals: Germany 2006: 1st Round: Match Schedule: Japan vs Brazil

Thursday, 22nd June 2006
Ronaldo Equals Gerd Müller's Goalscoring Record

Previous Encounters:
Of the seven previous encounters between Japan and Brazil, Japan have failed to win one of them; although they drew the last two Confederations Cup meetings: (2:2) in Cologne, on 22nd June 2005; and (0:0) in Ibaraki, on 4th June 2001.

The Match:
Japan started with some good possession and foraying runs into the Brazilian area. For Brazil, Ronaldo almost looked sharp, when he forced Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi into a save at the near post.

In the 10th minute, Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi parried a good shot from Robinho; as Real Madrid's other Brazilian striker tried to make his mark on the game.

Then six minutes later, Robinho made Kawaguchi leap; as he shifted balance from the right to the left, to lose the Japan defenders and unleash a left-fot shot.

Ronaldo again, three minutes later; making Kawaguchi earn his wages. Then Juninho powered a drive in to sting the Japanese keeper's fingers.

In the 24th minute, Japan managed to get around the back of Brazil; as Gilberto Silva slid in to cut out Akira Kaji's low cross/shot. Dida probably had it covered but the Arsenal player wasn't taking any chances.

Ronaldo almost looked back to his best when, with three defenders on him, he did a blitz turn to whip in a low shot but there were still too many bodies in the way.

Then Japan took the lead, just after the half-hour, as Keiji Tamada ran into an amazing hole in the Brazilian penalty area to latch onto the Brazilian-born, Alessandro Santos' perfectly weighted through pass after an excellent crossfield pass had stretched Brazil.

Ronaldo scored his 13th World Cup Finals goal, to overtake Pele, when he headed in Cicinho's cross-box header; from Ronldinho's cross-field cross, in the last seconds of the first-half.

The often criticised Brazilian striker is now only one goal away from Gerd M�ller's all-time record of fourteen World Cup Finals goals.

He may be fatter but he still knows where the goal is and how to get the ball in there, with the minimum of effort.

Half-time: (1:1).

Five minutes after the re-start, Ronaldo was so close to equalling the goalscoring record after a lovely back-heel from Ronaldinho set him up with a perfect chance; Ronaldo's low shot just wide of the right post.

Then, just three minutes later, Kawaguchi made his first-half performance count for nothing as everyone will remember this howler. The hero of the first-half turned villain in a second as he seemed to be bending at the knees and let Juninho's shot fly through his half-outstretched hands.

Then carnival time, as Gilberto ran into the area on the left and took the ball alone, for Brazil's third goal; a goal that Roberto Carlos would be proud of.

Then just as it looked like Brazil were taking it easy, to save Zico's team from humiliation, they changed the pace of the game again and Ronaldo equalled Gerd Müller's record of 14 World Cup Finals goals.

Final Score:
Japan 1 - Brazil 4

Goalscorers:
1:0 Keiji Tamada (33)
1:1 Ronaldo (45)
1:2 Juninho Pernambucano (53)
1:3 Gilberto (59)
1:4 Ronaldo equals Gerd M�ller's record. (81)

Teams

Japan:
23 Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi; 14 Alessandro Santos, 19 Keisuke Tsuboi, 21 Akira Kaji, 22 Yuji Nakazawa; 7 Hidetoshi Nakata, 8 Mitsuo Ogasawara, 10 Shunsuke Nakamura, 17 Junichi Inamoto; 11 Seiichiro Maki, 20 Keiji Tamada.

Brazil:
1 Nelson Dida; 3 Ferreira Lucio, 4 Juan, 13 Cicinho, 16 Gilberto; 8 Kak�, 10 Ronaldinho, 17 Gilberto Silva, 19 Juninho Pernambucano; 9 Ronaldo, 23 Robinho.

Referee:
Eric Poulat (France)

Substitutions:
55 Mins (Japan) - 6 Koji Nakata on for 8 Mitsuo Ogasawara
60 Mins (Japan) - 9 Naohiro Takahara on for 11 Seiichiro Maki
66 Mins (Japan) - 16 Masashi Oguro on for 9 Naohiro Takahara
71 Mins (Brazil) - 11 Jose Ze Roberto on for 8 Kaka
71 Mins (Brazil) - 20 Luis Ricardinho on for 10 Ronaldinho
82 Mins (Brazil) - 12 Rogerio Ceni on for 1 Nelson Dida