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Brazil managed to overcome a determined Belgium 2:0 Monday to advance to a quarterfinal showdown with England on June 21. The Belgians started the game aggressively with a first minute Mbo Mpenza shot that was tipped over, as the Europeans harried Brazil and refused to allow them to settle down in the opening minutes.
Brazil's first hit on goal came from Juninho Paulista with a curling shot, which just drifted past the post. Ronaldinho then fed Ronaldo, whose shot also went wide. The fast paced game saw Belgian captain Marc Wilmots then have a headed goal disallowed in the 36th minute for a foul before he found the net.
The second half started with another chance for Wilmots, who saw his fine drive put round the post by Marcos. Belgium continued to keep Brazil on the back foot and, but for a marvelous individual effort by Rivaldo, seemed the stronger of the two teams. In the 67th minute he controlled a ball from Ronaldhino with his chest and then foot before slamming the ball home with a slight deflection off defender Timmy Simons.
Belgium immediately came back and Bart Goor narrowly failed to score as he failed to control a bouncing ball in front if an almost empty net. This was followed by a Wesley Sonck shot that Marcos gathered well.
With all players going forward a counter attack was bound to leave the Belgians vulnerable and this happened in the 87th minute when a break by Kleberson saw him fire the ball to Ronaldo, who beat the goalkeeper to net Brazil's second as they closed out the match.
(Chris Price, chris@chosun.com )
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