Brazil beat brave Ghana

Ghana likes to think of itself as "the Brazil of African soccer."

On Tuesday, the Ghanaians were trumped by the real thing.

Ronaldo became the World Cup's all-time leading scorer, pacing Brazil to a 3-0 victory in Dortmund, Germany, and sending the reigning world champions to the quarter-finals.

Ronaldo scored in the fifth minute of the match Tuesday, beating goalkeeper Richard Kingson on a breakaway to collect his 15th career goal at the competition and pass Gerd Muller of West Germany on the all-time goal scorers' list.

Muller, nicknamed Der Bomber, scored 14 goals in 13 games for West Germany at the 1970 and 1974 World Cups.

"I want to continue to increase the record," Ronaldo said, "but without forgetting that the main goal in the World Cup is winning the title. We know that we are going to face more difficult rivals every time, and we have to be prepared for that."

Brazil has now won a record 11 straight games at the World Cup and has not lost since the 1998 final.

Ghana put forth a brave effort against the Brazilians, carrying the play for long stretches and creating several dangerous scoring chances, but it lacked finishing and a definitive scoring touch. Whenever Ghana, competing at its first World Cup, did fire a dangerous shot on net, it was repelled by the outstanding goalkeeping of Dida.

"We won the game, but the result doesn't show it was not an easy game at all," Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. "The first half they did well, they should have scored. They had chances."

Now, Brazil will face Frace, who won today's game against Spain. It will be a Brazilian opportunity for revenge from 1998's world cup final. GO BRAZIL!!!

posted by nscafuro @ 9:31 PM