Brazil vs Turkey - 2002 World Cup Group Match

Home: World Cup 2002: Korea-Japan Finals: 1st Round: Match Report

Monday June 3rd, 2002

Drama At The Death

Turkey, who hardly ever make it to the World Cup finals, faced Brazil (who are always there) and went into the half-time break in front - against the run of play.

One of the nicest moves of the half came in the 40th minute.... Ronaldinho, on the right, crossed high to Rivaldo.... who took it on his chest (under pressure) and turned the ball to Roberto Carlos on the left.... forward to Ronaldo.... who dummied and skipped past Fatih Akyel and Alpay..... then crossed to Rivaldo at the far post...... whose header was saved by Recber.

Turkey coped well with the Brazilian pressure, denying Rivaldo, Ronaldo, and Ronaldinho on numerous occassions but they never really looked like they would go in front.

Turkey had soaked up 45 minutes of pressure from Brazil yet countered, in the dying seconds of the first half, to make the four times World Champions pay for not having taken the lead first.

0:1
Against the run of play, Bast�rk floated a long ball over the head of Roque Junior and behind Cafu, for Hasan Sas to run onto and score.

Half-time: Brazil 0 - Turkey 1

Brazil came out for the second-half looking a little shell shocked. If they only needed to play at 60% - according to Roberto Carlos in the pre-match build up - then now they had to step up a gear.

Turkey started to play with more confidence although Brazil were not prepeared to lie down and let them have their way.

Edmilson took the ball out of the Brazilan defense, on a great solo run, before releasing the ball for Ronaldo and Rivaldo in the Turkish area.... but they seemed to get in each other's way.

1:1
On the next forward push, Rivaldo crossed in for Ronaldo who dived feet first to hit the ball, while it was still in the air, past the helpless Recber - 50 mins.

Alpay �zalan, already on a yellow, earned the second red card of the tournament for pulling on Luizao's shirt, as the Brazilian broke free towards the area.

The foul was comitted on the edge of the area but Luizao fell into the box and a penalty was given by the Korean referee, who seemed to be enjoying himself throughout the game.

2:1
With three minutes to go, Rivaldo put Brazil back in the driving seat.

But the drama didn't end there. In the dying seconds of time added on Hakan �nsal earned himself a second yellow card, and sending off, for kicking the ball at Rivaldo; as the Brazilian prepared himself for a last-ditch corner kick.

Brazil have proved that they are still a class act and Turkey have shown the world that they lose their cool when the going gets tough.

Final Score:
Brazil 2 - Turkey 1

Man of the Match:
Rivaldo - The inspiration behind most of Brazil's attacking play.

Red Cards:
Alpay �zalan (86 mins)
Hakan �nsal (94 mins)

Yellow Cards:
Fatih Akyel (21 mins)
Hakan �nsal (24 mins)
Alpay �zalan (43 mins)
Denilson (73 mins)
Hakan �nsal (94 mins)

The Teams

Brazil:
1 Marcos; 2 Cafu, 3 Lucio, 4 Roque Junior, 5 Edmilson, 6 Roberto Carlos; 8 Gilberto Silva, 10 Rivaldo, 19 Juninho Paulista (18 Vampeta - 72 mins); 9 Ronaldo (21 Luizao - 73 mins), 11 Ronaldinho (17 Denilson - 67 mins).

Turkey:
1 R�st� Recber; 3 B�lent Korkmaz (17 Ilhan Mansiz - 66 mins), 4 Fatih Akyel, 5 Alpay �zalan, 16 �mit Ozat; 8 Tugay Kerimoglu (6 Arif Erdem - 89 mins), 10 Yildiray Bast�rk (22 Umit Davala - 66 mins), 20 Hakan �nsal, 21 Emre Belozoglu; 9 Hakan S�k�r, 11 Hasan Sas.

Referee: Kim Young-Joo