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| January 7th 2005 |
Rio de Janeiro, Maracana
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| BRAZIL - CAMEROON |
6-1 (2-1)
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GOALS 5' 1-0 Ronaldo
16' 2-0 Toninho Cerezo
33' 2-1 Emmanuel Kunde (penalty)
65' 3-1 Pelé
68' 4-1 Jairzinho
77' 5-1 Ronaldo
89' 6-1 Roberto Rivelino
REFEREE George Reader (England)
ATTENDANCE 174,000
YELLOW CARDS Geremi, Kalla, Song, Kana-Biyik (CMR)
RED CARD Song (CMR)
BRAZIL (Coach: Mario Zagalo, system 4-4-2)
1 Claudio André Taffarel
2 Cafu
3 Luis Pereira
15 Ricardo Gomes
6 Nilton Santos
7 Garrincha (-58)
8 Toninho Cerezo
5 Dunga (captain)
16 Didi (-72)
10 Pelé (-80)
9 Ronaldo
Substitutes:
19 Jairzinho (+58)
11 Roberto Rivelino (+72)
14 Ademir (+80)
CAMEROON (Coach: Valeri Nepomniatchi, system 4-4-2)
1 Thomas N'Kono
2 Stephen Tataw
5 Raymond Kalla
6 Emmanuel Kunde (captain)
4 Rigobert Song
8 Gregoire M'Bida (-46)
13 Geremi Njitap
15 André Kana-Biyik
20 Patrick Mboma (-63)
7 Francois Omam-Biyik
9 Roger Milla
Substitutes:
18 Lauren Etame-Mayer (+46)
3 Pierre Wome (+63)
MATCHREPORT
The party in Rio de Janeiro had already begun days before. Brazil,
characterized as the team with the most stars at every square metre, would
start their race to the ultimate title on home ground, in the huge Maracana,
against Cameroon. The pundits asked themselves how Ronaldo would play
together with Pelé, and wondered whether Zagalo would compose his midfield
too offensive or not. Zagalo did the right thing, and drafted Toninho
Cerezo and Dunga, two ballwinners, into the side, backing up for Garrincha and
Didi and enabling these two to show the world what they were capable of. And
Cameroon was about to find out!
Brazil realized that this game was about winning ánd playing beautifully.
Apart from wanting the 3 points, their goal was also to show the world what
these big stars could accomplish together. And that appeared to be quite a
lot, and the first sign came in the 5th minute. Didi sent a neat pass just
behind the Cameroon defense, for Ronaldo to fire it low into the corner of
the goal: 1-0. The African underdogs looked at each other, tried to have
their share of the game but before they knew it, Brazil had struck again. A
combination between Didi and Pelé tore a big hole in the Cameroon defense,
the ball reached "Rubberband Man" Toninho Cerezo, a dry shot and N'Kono was
beaten again: 2-0, just over a quarter of an hour gone, carnaval in Rio.
The job was done, Brazil seemed to think, and they started doing their
second task: enjoying 174,000 people in the stadium and billions behind
their tv screens. Garrincha started dribbling until Song thought that this
humiliation had been enough. He tackled the virtuose outside right brutally,
referee Reader showed the yellow card. Pelé then turned away brilliantly from
Kalla and served Didi, whose shot was saved by N'Kono. However, during one
of the sparing counterattacks suddenly the whistle: Reader had, as one of
very few in the stadium, seen a handball by Ricardo Gomes and awarded a
penalty-kick. Emmanuel Kunde crossed the pitch to accept the present
thankfully. 2-1.
All of a sudden it was a match again, Brazil had never thought it would go
this far. But after turning on the gas after the break, Cameroon where
overwhelmed and never had a single chance. Pelé, until then not in his
greatest shape, received the ball from substituted Jairzinho and simply
converted: 3-1. The difference was restored, and was increased only 3
minutes later by Jairzinho himself. The ultraquick outside right received
the ball from captain Dunga - over more than 40 metres - put Song aside and
took N'Kono as the last hurdle to 4-1. Being humiliated this way was too
much for Rigobert Song, he elbowed Pelé and was correctly sent off by George
Reader. As if it hadn't been enough for Cameroon, 4-1 down to Brazil and 20
minutes to go with just 10 men. Against Brazil, a Brazil team in magnificent
mood.
Against this decimated opponent Brazil could do whatever they wanted, it was
a great night for the players in yellow and blue. Cafu and Nilton Santos ran
the sidelines whenever possible, Toninho Cerezo and Dunga were safe guards
in midfield. Jairzinho kept on doing the damage to Kunde and his fellows and
convinced even more than Garrincha, Pelé showed magic now. The only one not
in his best form was Ronaldo. He wasn't drawn into combinations and could
not find the space for his dribbles. Surprisingly it was the invisible man
that scored a 2nd goal in the 77th minute. Rivelino, who had come into the
game in place of Didi, shot at goal, N'Kono punched it away but Ronaldo put
his foot against the ball from the following scrimmage. No problem for the
striker who didn't need to play well to still score his goals.
At the end of the show, and after Ademir - who had replaced Pelé - with a
blasting shot struck the bar, a 6th goal was added to Brazil's total.
Rivelino scored it with a hammer from 25 metres out. The spectators went out
of their heads, they were convinced that no other team than this Brazil
could become the All Time World Champion. Didn't it sound logical? For every
Pelé there was an Ademir, for every Garrincha a Jairzinho and for every
Nilton Santos a Roberto Carlos. Even Brazil"s second choice team would have
been handled as big favourites. Cameroon had learned on this thrilling night
in Maracana that there was a big difference between being a good team and
being a superpower. A difference of 5 goals.
Next Tuesday the Republic or Ireland and Chile play their first match of the
All Time World Cup. Chile can field a fine team, especially with great
strikers like Ivan Zamorano, Marcelo Salas and the magnificent Leonel
Sanchez who took his team by the hand during World Cup 1962. But how will
they fare against the steady Irish team, captained by Roy Keane who is
accompanied by other strong midfielders like Johnny Giles and Liam Brady.
Ireland with his coach in a notable doublerole: Jack Charlton coaches
Ireland and plays for England! Chile plays at home and Ivan Eklind from
Sweden is the man in charge for this important match.
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