Melo 73 Yesterday saw the red card.

10′ [0 - 1] Robinho / 53′ F. Melo (o.g.) [1 - 1] / 68′ W. Sneijder [2 - 1]

Match, Brazil had a good start. Netherlands to the semi-washed Brazil game, the first five minutes after the danger began to arrive. 8. Robinho pass the ball in the empty net Dani Alves minutes left to set offside but the goal lines of the Japanese was not valid. But some officials are not counting the previous goal gave 10.min. a goal mark. The call to pass from midfield almost at Melo great ball movement to catch the beautiful Robinho keeper was sent to the net and put his team in front 1-0.

Oranje immediately tried to level the score and came close via Dirk Kuyt. The Liverpool attacker cut inside from the right before unleashing a low shot, but Julio Cesar deflected it wide for a corner kick.

The South Americans continued to dominate play and could have doubled their lead halfway the first half. Dani Alves found Juan with a good cross from the right and the centre back didn’t hesitate to unleash a powerful shot, which went only just over the bar.

Kaka then opted to test the Dutch goalie at the half hour mark with a placed shot from 20 yards out. Stekelenburg pulled off an excellent save to deny the Real Madrid star though.

The referee awarded Oranje a free kick in a dangerous position about ten minutes before the half-time whistle. Wesley Sneijder stepped up to take it, but his shot was too weak to trouble Julio Cesar.

Netherlands then did seem to trouble the Brazilian defence minutes before the interval after a good attack down the right via Wesley Sneijder and Gregory van der Wiel. However, the latter’s cross as eventually cleared by the South Americans’ defence.

Maicon then nearly made it two for Brazil in the dying seconds of the first half. However, his powerful shot after an impressive run down the right ended up in the side-netting.

Netherlands started the second half with attacking intentions and the Europeans levelled the score in the 50th minute. Wesley Sneijder sent in a dangerous cross from the right and midfielder Felipe Melo headed the ball in his own net after shot stopper Julio Cesar missed his clearance.

The Dutch only just escaped falling behind again after 65 minutes of play. Ooijer failed to clear a cross from the right, deflecting the ball into the path of Kaka. The attacking midfielder aimed his placed shot just wide of the Dutch goal though.

Oranje then somewhat surprisingly took the lead in the 67th minute. Robben sent in a great corner kick for Kuyt, who flicked the ball on for Sneijder and the unmarked Inter star headed home from close range.

Things went from bad to worse for the Selecao only minutes after the 2-1. Robben went past Felipe Melo and the Juventus midfielder cynically fouled the winger before kicking out at him again after the referee’s whistle, leaving the ref no other option but to show Melo the red card.

Holland launched a breakaway about ten minutes before the final whistle after some good work from Sneijder. However, the final pass for Kuyt was just too hard and Julio Cesar picked up the loose ball.

Brazil then looked dangerous after a series of corner kicks with five more minutes to go, but an excellent goalline clearance from Kuyt prevented the equalizer.

Sneijder should have put the match to bed in the 84th minute after a quick counter attack. However, the tricky midfielder failed to beat the Brazilian goalie after being set up by Robin van Persie.

The Netherlands’ World Cup semi-final opponent, the team will be Uruguay-Ghana match winner.

Latest information: The see yellow card in the Netherlands and De Jong, Van der Wiel be suspended for the semi-final match, they will not be on the field.

Netherlands on the World Cup semi-finals when fourth time, experience the excitement of the semi-final was the first time after 1998.

Brazil at the beginning of the match so much done if you attack, I knew the second half the game before going down.

My favorite was the Netherlands. And the Netherlands which are difficult to win the match.

Enjoy the, Video, comment, Gallery and view the match.

Chile will have to fight back from two goals down to save their World Cup Campaign

Goal – 35′ Juan [1 - 0] / 38′ L. Fabiano [2 - 0] / 59′ Robinho [3 - 0]

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Brazil 3-0 Chile: Juan, Luis Fabiano & Robinho Send Selecao Steaming Into Quarter-Finals

Two goals in the first half from Juan and Luis Fabiano gave Brazil a comfortable 2-0 lead over Chile in the last-16 clash, before Robinho sealed the win in style with a second half strike as the Selecao set up a tantalising quarter-final showdown with the Netherlands.

South American pride and bragging rights were at stake as both Chile and Brazil looked to avoid becoming the first nation from the continent to be knocked out of the 2010 World Cup.

Chile showed all the initiative in the opening exchanges as they pinned back Brazil, who were happy to absorb the pressure and pounce on the break.

Indeed, it was the Selecao who had the first real chance after four minutes when Robinho released Luis Fabiano through on goal in a counter-attack, but the Sevilla striker dragged his shot wide across goal.

Dunga’s men quickly wrestled control of the game after that and on eight minutes, Gilberto Silva unleashed a piledriver from 25 yards out which Claudio Bravo was forced to dive at full stretch to palm the ball away. Kaka then fired wired from the ensuing corner as Chile suddenly found themselves chasing shadows.

But La Roja finally carved out their first shot at goal on 12 minutes when Humberto Suazo fired his half-volley straight at Julio Cesar after he got in between two defenders to meet Alexis Sanchez’s through pass.

It didn’t take long for the frantic pace of the early minutes of the game to dissipate and chances started to dry up as both teams settled into a normal rhythm. In fact, the fans at Ellis Park had to wait until the 34th minute before they were up on their feet. And it was the Brazilian half of the crowd that were celebrating as the Canarinha took the lead when Juan thumped a bullet header into the top corner from Maicon’s corner.

Just three minutes later, it became 2-0. Robinho squared the ball to the middle to Kaka, who touched it on to Luis Fabiano and the striker coolly rounded the on-rushing Bravo before slotting the ball into the empty net.

Five minutes from the break, Michel Bastos galloped down the left channel and drilled in a low drive which flashed just wide, before Fabiano came close to a second but he hammered his header over from 12-yards out from a Maicon cross.

Brazil continued to look the more threatening side as Chile struggled to hang on for the half-time whistle.

A desperate Marcelo Bielsa made two changes at the break in a bid to haul his Chile side back into the contest. Rodrigo Tello came on for Pablo Contreras while Jorge Valdivia replaced Mark Gonzalez, but it was the Selecao who came out firing again when Dani Alves’ freekick all the way on the left channel just floated over the bar.

La Roja managed to string together a number of half-decent attacks, but it was their final ball into the opposition box that let them down. That only resulted in Brazil taking advantage of the gaps at the back to launch counter-attacks. And that was precisely how they five-time world champions made it 3-0.

Ramires made an interception in the halfway line, darted forward all the way to the edge of the area before teeing up Robinho to curl a wonderful side-footed shot past a hapless Bravo. Minutes later, Dani Alves let rip a 30-yard rocket which swerved agonisingly wide.

Chile, to their credit, didn’t let their heads drop as they fought valiantly for a consolation goal. Valdivia came closest on 65 minutes when he flicked up an Alexis Sanchez squared ball and pummelled in a volley which flew just over.

Another lightning break for Brazil almost resulted in a fourth goal when Robinho chased down a through ball and arrowed in a low drive across goal but Bravo got down well to swat it away.

Straight to the other end, Julio Cesar was forced to make his first save of the game when he dived full stretch to deny a superb shot from Humberto Suazo. Minutes later, Suazo’s volley right off the ground dipped over Julio Cesar but it could only clip the top of the bar.

Jean Beausejour and Valdivia had the last clear-cut chances of the game for Chile when they both pulled their shots wide but Brazil’s commanding lead never looked in danger as they went on to secure an impressive 3-0 win and a date with the Netherlands in the quarter-finals.

Portugal and Brazil battled to a 0-0 draw in Durban to ensure both sides qualified from Group G in the World Cup.

It was a largely scrappy game, with the best chance falling to Portugal’s Raul Meireles on the hour mark, who had his effort tipped wide by Julio Cesar.

As expected, Brazil made changes to their side in light of their already-assured place in the last 16. Dani Alves, Julio Baptista and Nilmar came in for Elano, Robinho and the suspended Kaka. Portugal made four changes, bringing in Danny, Duda, Costa and the fit-again Pepe.

Brazil attacked from the start, forcing a corner within the opening moments and seeing more of the possession than the Portuguese. But the early stages were beset by mistakes as the game lacked any real fluency.

Dani Alves had one effort from 25 yards which just went wide, while Portugal could have taken the lead in the 18 minute. Meireles made good progress down the left and crossed inch perfectly for Tiago, whose volley from outside the box flew just wide of goal.

Luis Fabiano was the first player to enter referee Benito Archundia’s notebook when he was booked for a late foul on Pepe. The same player was then brought down by Felipe Melo, but he escaped with a warning from the man in the middle.

A second yellow card followed in controversial circumstances, as Juan clearly raised his arm to stop a high ball reaching the path of Cristiano Ronaldo. The referee saw fit to show leniency rather than send off the defender, whilst also booking Duda for his protests.

Suddenly, some end-to-end action followed as Nilmar’s shot was superbly parried onto the woodwork by Eduardo, before Portugal broke and Tiago fell to the ground after an apparent push in the back. Rather than award a penalty though, the referee penalised the Atletico Madrid midfielder for a dive and showed him a yellow card.

A Ronaldo free kick flew well over the bar as Portugal started to cause Dunga’s side further trouble down the middle.

Nilmar had another effort which he sent just wide as Brazil continued to threaten on the break and then Pepe became the latest man into the referee’s bad books when he committed a late tackle in midfield, before a Ronaldo pot-shot from 25 yards was easily collected by Julio Cesar.

Felipe Melo again fouled Pepe and this time received a booking, before getting a dressing down from team-mate Gilberto Silva for his cocky behaviour towards the referee on receiving his caution. Within seconds the midfielder was replaced by Josue in an attempt by Dunga to keep his side up to 11 men.

Neither coach made further changes at the break, and it was Portugal who threatened first in the second half as Ronaldo broke clear down the left, but his awkward low cross was easily cut out by Lucio. But when he ran at the Brazil skipper a second time moments later it took a diving header from Juan to bail out the big number three after Ronaldo had managed to get a cross in behind him.

Simao was introduced into the fray at the expense of Duda as Carlos Queiroz looked to get more width out of his side.

The five-time winners continued to try to work the ball around Portugal and a decent passing move led to Dani Alves crossing from the right for Fabiano, but the striker had to arch backwards to get a header on target, making it easy for Eduardo to collect.

Substitute Simao then countered that effort with a speculative long-range strike which Julio Cesar collected at the second attempt as the game continued to lack the spark which many had expected to see.

It very nearly arrived on the hour mark when Ronaldo got free of Lucio on the right, and the defender’s cover tackle ran perfectly for Raul Meireles, but he chose to shoot with the outside of his right foot and Julio Cesar was able to tip the ball wide. The ‘keeper picked up a heavy knock to his back as the two collided and had to be given treatment on the pitch before continuing.

When the corner finally came in, Ricardo Carvalho’s header was dealt with by two Brazilian defenders.

Danny appeared well set to test Julio Cesar as he found himself clear down the Portugal right, but a very late flag foiled him. The replays also suggested it was an erroneous decision.

Still the majority of shots seemed to be coming from long range, with Dani Alves attempting another speculative effort which failed to make Eduardo work and one had to begin wondering whether the two sides would begin to settle for what was a mutually beneficial scoreline.

Ronaldo failed to reach a low cross at one end, whilst Fabiano overhit a ball looking for Alves for the other as the game increasingly threatened to peter out. An excellent tackle by Carvalho foiled Julio Baptista just 20 yards from goal, but injured both players in the process before Michel Bastos brought down Simao but Portugal wasted the free kick.

Ronaldo thought he should have had another free kick when he was brought down by Gilberto Silva, but the ball had already fallen Portugal’s way but was wasted by a high shot from Simao.

Brazil coach Dunga appeared to still be waving his men forward when they were on the ball, but for the most part the players seemed content to stroke the ball around as the clock ran down.

They did carve out an opening in the second minute of stoppage time though as Ramires unleashed a stinging effort that Eduardo kept out with a brilliant one-handed leap.

The striker is back in the goals as 10-man Brazil win again.

Brazil‘s Luis Fabiano got back amongst the goals as he recorded a brace to set his side up for a 3-1 win over Cote D‘Ivoire in Group G of the World Cup. Kaka was sent off late on as a controversial affair reached its tempestuous climax.

Fabiano hit goals either side of half-time, though the second had a hint of handball about it, before Elano wrapped up the win. Didier Drogba’s header proved only a consolation for the Elephants.

As expected, Drogba was recalled to the starting line-up by Ivory Coast coach Sven-Goran Eriksson after having come on as a substitute against Portugal. Brazil were again able to field their one to 11, Dunga deciding not to tinker with the line-up which overcame North Korea.

Brazil could well have had the lead within the first minute as an Ivory Coast attack was broken down and Robinho broke straight through the middle before firing a 30-yard strike just over the bar.

Cote d’Ivoire’s first half-chance came when Salomon Kalou attempted to thread a pass through the Selecao’s backline for Drogba, but he just put too much weight on his effort and Julio Cesar beat the Elephants’ striker to the ball.

The Chelsea frontman looked set to cause Brazil trouble when he stood over a 13th-minute free-kick, but he blasted his 25-yard effort well over the bar. But it wasn’t long before he’d earned his side another set piece after tangling with Lucio. Emmanuel Eboue swung a well-placed dead ball and Julio Cesar had to be on his toes to punch clear ahead of two green shirts.

At this stage it was the Africans who were on top, with Brazil looking to rein back a rare spell of possession. Full-back Maicon decided to take the bull by the horns by going on a rampaging run down the right which earned Brazil a corner.

When the ball came in Gilberto Silva had his shot from the edge of the area blocked and the rebound fell to Robinho, but again he couldn’t keep his shot down as his left foot effort failed to test Boubacar Barry.

But this only proved to be the catalyst to a period of pressure from Brazil which would lead to the opening goal on 26 minutes.

Robinho picked up the ball in midfield and fed Luis Fabiano, whose first-time flick freed Kaka. The Real Madrid man did well to keep hold of possession under pressure before returning the pass to Luis Fabiano, who strode forward and fired emphatically into the roof of the net at Barry’s near post.

The breakthrough was just what Brazil needed to take control of the game, and for several minutes afterwards Ivory Coast did well to so much as get out of their own half as the Selecao began to dominate possession and territory for the first time. It became a lesson in keep-ball for a few minutes as the Samba stars stroked the ball around with ease.

On the rare occasions that the Elephants did progress, they appeared to be constantly being foiled by Felipe Melo in midfield. This prompted a couple of longer range efforts, the best of which saw Julio Cesar smother the ball well from a Kalou strike.

Eboue was the next to try his luck from range, his 20-yard shot taking a flick off Juan before going wide of the near post, but the referee and his assistants failed to spot the deflection and gave a goal kick.

It was probably a deserved lead which Brazil took into the interval, though Ivorian journalist Gio was righly disappointed when speaking to Goal.com’s Peter Pedroncelli inside Soccer City at half-time. “It is a pity we could not capitalise on the good early pressure we had. If we had scored early on we would probably be two or three goals up by now,” he said.

Brazil came out for the second half with an extra spring in their step and within just five minutes Luis Fabiano added a controversial second goal.

With two defenders to beat, Luis Fabiano appeared to take the ball down with the top of his arm, before flicking it up with his right foot, then once more connecting with the top of his arm. With no whistle forthcoming, the striker was able to drill home the bouncing ball with his left foot, though Barry may feel he could have gotten more on the ball as he could only get his fingers to the strike.

It was a real sucker punch for Cote d’Ivoire, but they weren’t about to give up, and just two minutes later Drogba worked himself into space, from where he was able to get a header in on goal. But his effort ran along the face of goal with Julio Cesar scrambling across.

Kalou then tried to put in substitute Gervinho – a replacement for the ineffective Aruna Dindane – but his pass was just too long as Cote d’Ivoire began to play with a hint more urgency, but just after the hour mark Brazil put the game to bed.

Kaka did superbly to get to the bye-line on the left, drawing Kolo Toure in doing so, before cutting back into the centre, where Elano timed his run to perfection and slotted home coolly with his left foot.

It was practically Elano’s last touch of the game, as he picked up an injury soon after had to be stretchered off the pitch. He was replaced by Dani Alves, whilst Sven-Goran Eriksson used the break in play to introduce Kader Keita for Kalou.

Maicon very nearly added a fourth when he nutmegged Yaya Toure before slashing a low shot just wide at the near post. It was an example of the kind of casual football which the Selecao were now demonstrating in most areas of the pitch.

Cote d’Ivoire were reduced to the odd break at this point, but it was from one such moment that they reduced the deficit.

Gervinho went on a magnificent run from his own half, but had his shot blocked. But he continued to chase down the loose ball and wait for support. When the ball was finally crossed back into the area, Didier Drogba arrived unmarked to head past the motionless Julio Cesar.

It was a real fillip for the ‘home’ crowd, most of whom had come to cheer on their African brothers.

But just as the game looked set to come alive once more, a highly tempestuous end came about instead. After an original confrontation between Keita and Kaka, Check Tiote was then booked for a bad challenge on Luis Fabiano.

Then came the real flashpoint with just three minutes remaining as Keita ran into Kaka in back play before throwing himself to the floor. As recriminations were sent back and forth between the two sets of players, there was a great amount of pushing and shoving before the referee regained control. When order was restored he eventually showed Kaka a second yellow card and the subsequent red, but Brazil managed to hold out and record their second successive win..

Brazil 2 – 1 West Germany 1963 Friendly Video

Ronaldo has played for Brazil in 97 international matches, amassing 62 goals. He was a part of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994, and 2002 World Cups. During the 2006 World Cup, Ronaldo became the highest goalscorer in the history of the World Cup with his fifteenth goal, surpassing Gerd Müller’s previous record of 14.

Ronaldo – All 15 record World-Cup goals In…

Full name: Ronaldo Luis Nazário de Lima
Date of birth: 22 September 1976
Place of birth: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height: 1.83 m
Playing position: Striker

FRANCE – BRAZIL FINAL WORLD CUP 1998