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040606
Footballing Royalty Accounts For All Whites
by Jeremy Ruane
As expected, reigning World Cup holders Brazil comfortably accounted for the All Whites in the Stade de Geveve on June 4, but while the world champions could have won by a far higher scoreline than the 4-0 result they amassed, the performance of their doughty Kiwi opponents meant that the final outcome on the scoreboard was about right all round.
Indeed, the All Whites held out their much vaunted opponents until just before half-time in this friendly international, and conceded the last two goals in the last eight minutes of a match witnessed by a sell-out 32,000 crowd, with millions more watching on televisions around the planet.
Brazil set out their stall as early as the third minute, Kaka pouncing on a poor clearance by Glen Moss to link with Ronaldinho and Adriano on the edge of the penalty area. Roberto Carlos was next in the food chain, and let fly with a swerving twenty-yarder. Moss redeemed himself in style, diving to his left to save.
Over the course of the first fifteen minutes, the All Whites generally acquitted themselves well, forcing a couple of corners of their own in the process. But it was their defensive effort which would come under the most scrutiny in this match, and the sight of Ronaldinho being thwarted as he looked to jink his way through a plethora of white shirts inside the All Whites' penalty area suggested New Zealand would be well served in that department today.
After Moss had come off his line swiftly to counter the threat of Ze Roberto as he ghosted onto a Ronaldinho pass, the goalkeeper pawed away a free-kick taken by the pony-tailed superstar, who then played a neat one-two with the ever-dangerous - despite his portly appearance - Ronaldo.
The pair combined to release Roberto Carlos down the left, and his tantalising crossfield ball found Cafu steaming forward on the opposite flank. Into the area the fullback powered, only for Moss to block his shot with his legs.
After Steven Old had hooked a Roberto Carlos cross to safety, the sight of Danny Hay heading dejectedly to the sideline with a torn stomach muscle allowed Che Bunce to enter the fray, and saw the captain's armband passed onto Ivan Vicelich.
The disruption to New Zealand's rearguard didn't disrupt Brazil's intentions - they simply kept possession, gradually developing a head of steam in the process as they warmed to their first serious contest since playing Russia in March.
Cafu blazed over; Moss smothered an Adriano drive; Kaka pulled his shot wide of the near post after a breathtaking angled pass from Ronaldinho had taken four opponents out of the equation … and still the yellow tide pounded away in search of an opening.
In the 34th minute, Brazil should have opened the scoring. Ronaldinho sprayed the ball wide to Kaka once more, and the overlapping Cafu was duly rewarded for his enterprising run. His cross picked out the unmarked Ronaldo, but from ten yards, he headed over the crossbar.
The combined efforts of Bunce and Noah Hickey thwarted Adriano seconds later, after Old had failed to clear a Kaka cross, while a Ronaldinho free-kick soon afterwards was desperately cleared by Kris Bouckenooghe, and Old redeemed himself with a vital clearance to thwart Adriano, as he homed in on Roberto Carlos' cross to the far post.
With time running out in the first half, the Brazilians clearly stepped up a gear or two in the face of the All Whites' obstinacy - the world champions' plucky opponents were well on course to go to the dressing rooms at half-time with the scoreline unchanged since the kick-off.
But just when the All Whites looked to be in sight of realising that outstanding achievement, a man who is poised to become the all-time greatest goalscorer in the history of World Cup Finals tournaments added New Zealand to his list of unwilling victims on the international stage two minutes prior to the interval.
Ronaldinho and Kaka played a neat one-two on half-way, with the latter storming forward after his lay-off in anticipation of a through ball from Cafu, which duly arrived. Kaka swept past an opponent before drilling a low cross to the near post, where Ronaldo swooped. Through the legs of Moss his first-time shot went, and that famous buck-toothed smile was in evidence for the 62nd time in the colours of Brazil.
With New Zealand crestfallen, the Brazilians pressed for a second goal before half-time. Kaka cut inside from the right before picking out the unmarked Ronaldo, who scythed into the penalty area before, with defenders closing, coolly chipping the advancing Moss. The post came to the All Whites' aid to foil the goalscorer's last act of his 99th international.
Robinho's not a bad option to have as a replacement, but not even he could escape the attentions of Brazil's insatiable footballing media before he took to the field, two microphones being thrust under his nose for a brief comment prior to his entry to the fray.
Before the newcomer had had a chance to become involved in the action, New Zealand fashioned a genuine opening through Chris Killen, who beat Lucio in the air and was then thwarted by goalkeeper Dida.
The rebound fell kindly to Vaughan Coveny, and the All Whites' most prolific marksman and, thanks to his appearance in this match, the country's most-
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capped “A” international, instantly unleashed a screamer which was destined for the top far corner of the net until Lucio got in the way of its trajectory.
Talk about waving a red rag to a bull! The Brazilians quickly upped the tempo, and in the 51st minute, doubled their advantage with a delightfully conceived goal. Kaka and Ronaldinho combined once more, the latter playing the ball into the path of the surging Robinho. He evaded two challenges before slipping the ball to Adriano, who side-stepped Hickey's lunge before walloping the ball past Moss from inside the `D'.
Not surprisingly, Brazil weren't satisfied with a two-goal cushion against their Oceania opponents, and only a timely challenge by Bunce prevented Robinho from adding a third goal, after Kaka had pounced on an Old blunder.
Seconds later, Ronaldinho spotted Kaka's splendidly timed run to beat the offside trap and delivered a princely pass into the path of his fellow Kiwi tormentor. A deft lob left Moss beaten all ends up, but the ball flew wide.
Moss was having a whale of a game when called upon, and produced his best save of the match in the 59th minute. Swiss referee Jerome Laperrierre wrongly called a handling offence against Vicelich on the edge of New Zealand's penalty area, and Roberto Carlos and Ronaldinho were instantly licking their lips at the opportunities this opened up for their repertoire of set-piece routines.
The pair played a one-two before Roberto Carlos let fly, and Moss got down well to turn his deflected effort to safety. A string of substitutions followed, in the middle of which Adriano created an opening for Robinho, whose effort was blocked by the legs of Moss.
Twenty minutes from time, Brazil conjured up a delightfully intricate one-touch passing move which culminated in one of the newcomers, Gilberto, threading a low cross just too far in front of Adriano. Seconds later, a Ronaldinho cross picked out the head of Juan, only for the defender to see Moss foil another Brazilian goalscoring opportunity.
The All Whites were afforded very few opportunities to threaten as an attacking force in this match, which was understandable. Rare indeed are the chances for minnows such as New Zealand to take on the likes of Brazil and other such footballing royalty, and when they come, mere possession of the ball is akin to savouring crumbs from the rich man's table.
But in the 74th minute, Leo Bertos enjoyed one of those moments which he will cherish forever - he out-Braziled a Brazilian! And the captain, Cafu, no less, at that! Gathering the ball on the left, Bertos took on the fullback and did him a treat before scooting to the by-line, from where he managed to squeeze a cross in between the recovering figure of Cafu and Lucio, who gave the plucky Kiwi international a friendly pat on the head in acknowledgement of the skill he had shown.
Unfortunately for Bertos, his cross was cleared to Kaka, who sent Rubinho storming through the middle of the All Whites' rearguard. But the combination of his poor touch, and the pincer effect applied by Bunce and Moss, put paid to that raid.
After Ricardinho had poked a shot wide of the mark through a crowded penalty area, the sight of Bunce succumbing to a head wound sustained when colliding with Moss as the goalkeeper punched a cross clear left the All Whites lightweight in defence for the rest of the match, and they suffered the consequences in the remaining minutes.
Moss saved from Cicinho as he darted in behind the defence in the 84th minute, and from the resulting corner, Robinho's effort was blocked by defenders. This sparked a Kiwi counter-attack which culminated in a corner. Bertos' delivery was headed clear, and away motored Kaka down the left.
First Hickey, then Bouckenooghe were left in his wake before he coolly rolled the ball past the advancing Moss from fifteen yards to make it 3-0 in the 86th minute.
After Lucio's headed goal, from a Robinho cross-shot, had been ruled out by the offside flag, Brazil struck a fourth goal three minutes into stoppage time. Ricardinho chipped the ball into the path of Juninho Pernambucano, who steered his first-time strike past Moss to wrap up the scoring.
There was still time for New Zealand to create a late chance of their own. Killen fed debutant substitute Chris James on the left flank - not a bad team against whom to make your first appearance for your country! - and his splendid cross picked out the head of Tim Brown.
His header rocketed narrowly over the bar, leaving Brazil worthy 4-0 victors in their final match prior to their bid to win the World Cup for a record sixth time, and New Zealand having earned a great deal of credibility in the footballing hot-bed that is Europe, following the final game of a four-match tour which also saw them lose 2-0 to Hungary, then defeat Georgia 3-1 before drawing 1-1 with Estonia.
All Whites: Moss; Hickey, Hay (Bunce, 25) (de Gregorio, 82), Old, Bouckenooghe; Mulligan (Smith, 61), Christie (Brown, 66), Vicelich, Bertos (James, 86); Killen, Coveny (Brockie, 76)
Brazil: Dida; Cafu (Cicinho, 75), Juan, Lucio, Roberto Carlos (Gilberto, 64); Kaka, Emerson (Gilberto Silva, 64), Ze Roberto (Juninho Pernambucano, 64), Ronaldinho (Ricardinho, 75); Ronaldo (Rubinho, 46), Adriano
Referee: Jerome Laperrierre (Switzerland)
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