Brazil 2 - 0 Australia

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Sunday Jun 18 2006 05:00

Brazil moved into the last 16 of the World Cup finals with an unimpressive 2-0 victory against a hard-working Australia side in Munich.

The five-times world champions were frustrated by a disciplined first-half display from the Socceroos and as a result the opening 45 minutes were extremely dull.

Brazil improved after the break but they never reached the heights Argentina found in their 6-0 demolition of Serbia & Montenegro on Friday.

Ronaldo was marginally better than in his lazy display against Croatia although he was substituted with 18 minutes left and was also booked after kicking the ball into the net after being caught offside.

Brazil's first-half performance was epitomised by an incident in the 25th minute when Ronaldinho tripped over the ball and was left in a heap inside the penalty area. However, the Aussies were excellent with Guus Hiddink's tactics frustrating the Brazilians time and time again.

However, the Australia defence switched off at the start of the second period for one crucial moment. They allowed Ronaldo to hold up the ball before laying it off to Adriano who fired home a left-footed drive from the edge of the area.

The goal opened up the game with chances being created at both ends in sharp contrast to the sterility of the opening 45 minutes.

Australia's best chance to snatch an equaliser came in the 57th minute when Dida came for a high ball and missed it, but Harry Kewell, who had only just come on as a substitute for Tim Cahill, blazed over the bar with the goal gaping.

Just over ten minutes later Kewell's 30-yard drive almost caught Dida off his line, but his effort was just too high and in the 79th minute the impressive Marco Bresciano's mis-hit volley looked to be creeping in until Dida raced across his goal and made a sprawling save.Mark Viduka then lobbed Dida only for the ball to land on the roof of the net while at the other end Kaka flicked a header on to the woodwork.

Brazil finally scored a second goal in the last minute. Substitute Fred, who had only just come on to replace Adriano, combined well with Robinho who fired against the post. The ball rebounded kindly to Fred who rolled the ball into an empty net with Australia keeper Mark Schwarzer stranded.

It was not a vintage display, but Brazil had done just enough to win while Australia were left needing to secure a draw against Croatia to join them in the last 16.

Live Commentary

90
FULL TIME: BRAZIL 2-0 AUSTRALIA.

90
The scoreline flatters Brazil, they've been mediocre for long periods.

89
BRAZIL 2-0 AUSTRALIA. Robinho's raking drive hits the post and rebounds to FRED who is following up and touches the ball into an empty net.

88
Brazil make their final change - Fred comes on for Adriano.

86
Another near miss as Viduka lobs Dida only for the ball to land on the top of the net.

84
Bresciano's raking free-kick evades everyone and is only just wide of Dida's goal.

83
Robinho is booked for a word out of turn to the referee.

82
Kaka flicks a header on to the bar after leaving his marker Chipperfield for dead.

81
Another Roberto Carlos free-kick sails way over the crossbar.

79
Bresciano's mishit volley looks to be creeping in until Dida races across his goal and makes a sprawling save.

77
Brazil pressure ends with Robinho lifting a close-range effort over the bar.

76
Brazil are winning but again have been far from impressive - their displays in Germany have been almost England-esque.

74
Bresciano is growing frustrated as he pushes Cafu to the ground.

72
Brazil make a double change - Gilberto Silva and Robinho replacing Emerson and Ronaldo.

71
Another long run by Kaka ends with Schwarzer keeping out his daisy-cutter.

69
Hiddink makes his final change - striker John Aloisi on for defender Craig Moore.

68
Kewell's 30-yard drive almost catches Dida off his line, but his effort is just too high.

67
Brazil are passing the ball well - but unfortunately it's mainly sideways and backwards.

65
Lucas Neill does well to stop another rampaging Kaka run.

64
Kewell's cross isn't bad but Viduka is unable to reach it.

62
The game has really opened up after the first-half bore fest.

61
Adriano breaks down the right but, in trying to find Ronaldo, his left-footed cross is easily caught by Schwarzer.

59
The Aussies are suddenly creating chances - this time Emerton fires into the side-netting.

58
What a chance for Kewell, how many more openings like that will the Aussies have in this game?

57
Dida comes for a high ball, misses it, and Kewell blazes over with the goal gaping.

56
Australia make their second change with Kewell coming on for Cahill.

55
Bresciano is in acres of space down the left after beating the offside trap but Ze Roberto gets back to dispossess him inside the penalty area - a great chance wasted by the Aussies.

53
Adriano almost sets up Ronaldo only for the top scorer of four years ago to fail to control the ball.

52
Suddenly Brazil have an extra spring in their step, their passing is crisper and the pace of the game has been stepped up.

51
Hopefully the game will open up now - that was a great strike by Adriano.

49
BRAZIL 1-0 AUSTRALIA. The Aussies lose concentration and allow Ronaldo to hold up the ball before laying it off to ADRIANO who fires home a left-footed drive from the edge of the area.

49
Roberto Carlos scampers down the left and gets behind the Australia defence - but his cross evades the Brazilian strikers.

48
It's all very low-key, the crowd can't get into the game at all.

47
The second half has to be better than the first 45 minutes - surely?

46
Australia get the second half underway - no changes at the break.

45
HALF TIME: BRAZIL 0-0 AUSTRALIA.

45
Bresciano almost gives Australia a shock lead on the stroke of half-time but his shot from the edge of the area is just too high.

45
A great run by Kaka, who has again been Brazil's star performer.

44
Bresciano's corner comes to nothing though.

43
Viduka wins a late first-half corner for Australia.

43
Better play by Ronaldo as his drilled shot flies narrowly wide.

42
It's going to take some Brazilian magic to break down this hard-working Aussie defence.

41
Popovic limps off the pitch after lengthy treatment and is replaced by Marco Bresciano.

39
Culina becomes the fourth player to be booked for a high challenge on Juan.

38
Lucio gallops down the right but his cross is blocked, Brazil finally seem to be stepping up a gear though.

37
Brazil finally create an opening but Ronaldo produces an air-shot at just the wrong moment and Australia survive.

35
Australia are proving to be very difficult to break down - Hiddink has organised them well.

33
Cahill almost finds some space but Roberto Carlos gets back to dispossess him.

31
Ronaldo is booked for kicking the ball into the net after being caught offside.

29
Cafu is booked for a nasty trip on Cahill.

28
So far this game is about as entertaining as the first half of Togo v South Korea - yes that bad.

27
A half-chance for Australia but Dida easily saves Culina's mishit drive.

25
Better play by Brazil until Ronaldinho trips over the ball and is left in a heap inside the penalty area.

23
Brazil can't find a way through the packed Aussie defence.

22
Roberto Carlos' 30-yard shot is dreadful - high and very wide - maybe Jose Mourinho is having second thoughts about snapping up the veteran Real Madrid star.

21
Either Brazil aren't very good or they're lulling the rest of the teams into a false sense of security.

20
So far so good for the Socceroos - no great alarms for them in the opening 20 minutes.

18
It comes to nothing though as Dida rushes off his line to claim the ball.

17
Ze Roberto fouls Chipperfield, good chance for the Aussies.

16
Brazil are certainly not playing the type of football that Argentina produced on Friday - it's fairly tame stuff so far.

15
Cahill is penalised for a push as the corner is floated over.

14
Another corner for the Aussies as Roberto Carlos heads a cross out of play.

13
Brett Emerton is the first player to be booked.

12
Culina's mis-hit shot dribbles through to Dida.

11
Grella is lucky not to be shown a card as Roberto Carlos fires his free-kick high and very wide.

10
Ronaldo is cut down by Vince Grella on the edge of the area - another early chance for Brazil.

10
Jason Culina's corner is over-hit and drifts over everyone and out for a goal kick.

9
Sterjovski wins the first corner of the game.

7
The Aussies certainly aren't over-awed - they've settled to their task very well.

6
Mark Viduka tries his luck from distance but his shot is easily dealt with by Dida.

5
Juan's hoofed clearance goes straight to Mark Schwarzer - hardly Samba football from Brazil.

4
Better play by Ronaldo following his lazy display against Croatia.

4
Ronaldo flicks to ball to Kaka who drags his shot inches wide.

3
Australia deal with the free-kick easily.

2
Kaka is caught by Scott Chipperfield and Brazil have an early chance with a free-kick.

2
Brazil need to produce a good performance after the plaudits given to Argentina for their 6-0 demolition of Serbia & Montenegro on Friday.

1
Brazil get the game underway.

0
Australia coach Guus Hiddink has also brought in Tony Popovic and Mile Sterjovski for Marco Bresciano and Luke Wilkshire.

0
Tim Cahill, who came off the bench to score twice in the Socceroos' 3-1 comeback win over Japan, starts while Harry Kewell is dropped.

0
Ronaldo is still in Brazil's starting line-up despite his laboured performance in the 1-0 victory against Croatia.

0
Brazil and Australia, after winning their opening Group F matches, meet in Munich this evening.

Statistics

Brazil

Shots on target	8
Shots off target	9
Shots off bar/post	2
Fouls	9
Offsides	5
Corners	6

Australia

Shots on target	4
Shots off target	10
Shots off bar/post	0
Fouls	23
Offsides	1
Corners	5

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