Ronaldo, Brazil top Ghana 3-0 to advance
(AP)
Updated: 2006-06-28 07:39 Dida also stopped Gyan's 79th-minute shot from inside the area.
John Mensah had one of the match's best opportunities with a close-range
header in the 42nd, but Dida made a great save with his right leg.
Ghana was physical from the beginning, picking up four yellow cards in the
first half and two others in the second.
Gyan was sent off in the 81st for diving, his second yellow. His expulsion
extended the World Cup record for red cards to 25.
While Brazil is seeking a record sixth title, Ghana was trying to become only
the third African team to reach the quarterfinals of the World Cup. Senegal did
it in 2002 and Cameroon made it in 1990. No African team has reached the
semifinals.
Ghana finished second to three-time champion Italy in Group E, which also
included the United States and the Czech Republic.
Brazil came into the match boosted by a convincing 4-1 win over Japan, when
Parreira fielded five reserve players to rest some starters. The regulars were
recalled for Tuesday's match, though many in Brazil wanted Parreira to keep
playing some of the second stringers who performed well against Japan.
But this far into the tournament, Parreira went back to his starters, and
back after sitting out Thursday were defenders Roberto Carlos and Cafu;
midfielders Emerson and Ze Roberto; and striker Adriano. Cicinho, Gilberto,
Gilberto Silva and Juninho, meanwhile, returned to the bench.
"History doesn't talk about the beautiful game, it talks about champions,"
Parreira said. "We like to play beautifully and if we can, we will. ... We have
five world championships under our belly and we want to make it six."
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