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| April 22nd 2005 |
Yokohama, International Stadium
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| NORTHERN IRELAND - BRAZIL |
2-5 (1-2)
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GOALS 15' 1-0 George Best
24' 1-1 Romario
32' 1-2 Roberto Carlos
49' 1-3 Zico
59' 2-3 Norman Whiteside
70' 2-4 Romario
86' 2-5 Jairzinho
REFEREE Gottfried Dienst (Switzerland)
ATTENDANCE 71,000
YELLOW CARDS O'Neill (NIR)
NORTHERN IRELAND (Coach: Tommy Doherty, system 4-3-3)
1 Pat Jennings
3 Pat Rice (-57)
5 William McCracken
6 Danny Blanchflower (captain)
18 Mal Donaghy
8 Norman Whiteside
15 Martin O'Neill
4 Sammy McIllroy
7 George Best
12 Jim McIllroy
11 Peter McParland (-84)
Substitutes:
2 Jim Nicholl (+57)
16 Billy Bingham (+84)
BRAZIL (Coach: Mario Zagalo, system 4-3-3)
21 Gilmar
13 Carlos Alberto (captain)
4 Djalma Santos
15 Ricardo Gomes
17 Roberto Carlos
14 Ademir (-63)
20 Zico
18 Gerson (-69)
19 Jairzinho
12 Romario
11 Roberto Rivelino (-82)
Substitutes:
8 Toninho Cerezo (+63)
16 Didi (+69)
10 Pelé (+82)
MATCHREPORT
Mario Zagalo had announced that he would play with his second team, but what
did it matter? Even with this team Brazil would have been one of the huge
favourites of this All Time World Cup, eight of them had won a World Cup in
the past. Northern Ireland awaited a difficult, a very difficult night. Even
if Cameroon would beat Portugal at the same time, they needed at least a
draw. And it would be difficult the more because all Brazilians wanted to
show their coach what they could achieve at this ultimate level. This way
Northern Ireland saw a very motivated Romario and Zico, to name just a few.
Northern Irish coach Doherty tried to solve the problem he had experienced
in attack by putting Jimmy McIllroy in the starting line-up. Having scored
the winning goal against Cameroon coming on as a subsitute, he now got the
chance to prove himself from the beginning. Donaghy got the nod over Nelson
to play af left back against Jairzinho, but Brazil's cyclone on the right
wasn't hampered at all by Donaghy. From the first minute on Jairzinho was
the boss. Just like whole Brazil dominated Northern Ireland throughout the
match. Northern Ireland tried in the characteristic style (the long pass
from behind) but Brazil had no problem and were by far the better team. The
two goals that Best and his men got into the books, resulted from incidental
errors in the Brazilian defence, easy going as so often.
The first mistake came after 15 minutes. Roberto Carlos misjudged a long
pass from Rice, offered Best a free ride towards Gilmar and before the
goalkeeper realized what was happening, the ball was behind him in the net:
1-0 for Northern Ireland, but Brazil weren't shocked at all. They had
already had three big opportunities before. Romario and twice Rivelino had
discovered the holes in the Irish backline, but Jennings had shown to be one
of the best in the competition, parrying all three shots. Brazil went on
combining and nothing showed that these were just second choices playing.
When Romario equalized after 24 minutes it was nothing more than a
confirmation of the Brazilian domination. It was the start of what everybody
knew: Brazil were going to hammer these Northern Irish. Jairzinho again ran
past Donaghy and released a low cross that Romario tapped in and left
Jennings stunned.
Northern Ireland were under heavy pressure and couldn't escape anymore.
McCracken could save a Rivelino shot from the line with an ultimate effort
but after just a little more than half an hour, Brazil took the lead. It was
a typical Brazilian strike. Gerson passed it through the air to Rivelino,
who controlled the ball with his chest and played it directly to Roberto
Carlos who came in at full speed, out to make up for his mistake. The left
back let the ball bounce once and then took it out of the air. Jennings must
have heard it, in any case he hasn't seen it: 1-2 for Brazil, in the lead
for good.
Shortly after half-time Brazil increased their lead. Another goal, beautiful
like the other two and again very much Brazilian. Ademir was fouled by
O'Neill who got the yellow card. Referee Dienst awarded the Selecao a free
kick. Zico placed himself behind the ball and released a wonderful shot that
went it, exactly in the upper corner. After Brazil had missed another
chance, a brilliant attack with a double backheel by Gerson and Zico, for
just a moment Northern Ireland came back into the match. Best once more
dazzled past Roberto Carlos. Ricardo Gomes and Djalma Santos were looking to
one another to step in, but none of them really did. Best gave the ball to
Norman Whiteside who beat Gilmar for the second time: 2-3.
It was the sign for Zagalo to bring in some fresh blood. Ademir was taken
off in favour of Toninho Cerezo to bring a little more balance. Then Gerson
was put to rest and Didi came in. Especially the last substitution sorted
effect. Didi took the game in hand and passed the ball to Rivelino. Behind
him Roberto Carlos again arrived like an intercity train and got the ball
perfect in the run. He released a hard cross, Romario arrived earlier than
Blanchflower and just had to touch it to score his second on the night.
Zagalo then gave the audience what they wanted, a glimps of Pelé. El Rey
entered the pitch for Rivelino, 8 minutes before the end, but couldn't show
spectacular things. Jairzinho made up for it in the dying minutes,
converting after beating both Donaghy and Blanchflower with his speed. That
was the 2-5, the result in the end.
Brazil again had given a display of how to combine beauty with
functionality. It had an unmatched number of top players. Northern Ireland
were brave and had played up to their potential but simply could not
withstand the string of attacks Brazil had launched on them. Northern
Ireland went home without disappointing. They had played a fine match
against Portugal and scored three points against Cameroon. George Best had
shown the world that he really belonged to the world's greatest wingers in
history. But it were the Brazilians that left the field under big applause.
Next Tuesday the decision in the very tight group B. Bulgaria and Scotland
meet in Stockholm under refereeing of Georges Capdeville. Both teams need to
win but are not complete. Hristo Stoichkov, Bulgaria's biggest star, is
suspended as well as Scotland's Billy Bremner, also cautioned twice before.
In the Stadio Olimpico in Rome Czechoslovakia and Yugoslavia meet in another
match that is difficult to predict. Here suspensions for Karol Dobias and
Pavel Nedved for the Czechs. Coach Vytlacil is expected to make some changes
in the front line. Yugoslavia will have to replace stopper Katalinski and
midfielder Stojkovic. Ivan Horvat and Jovan Acimovic are likely to take
their places. Sergio Gonella is the referee here. Yugoslavia need a draw,
the Czechs a win to be sure. Who will make it to the next stage? Read it
next week!
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