Brazil v OlyWhites, 10/8/08

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When The Mood Takes Them, Boy, Can They Play!

by Jeremy Ruane

Brazil swept emphatically into the quarter-finals of the 2008 Olympic Men’s Football Tournament at the Wulihe Stadium in Shenyang on August 10, as they handed out a footballing lesson to New Zealand’s OlyWhites, who found themselves 5-0 down at its conclusion.

The Brazilian masterclass got off to the ideal start in just the third minute of play, punishing the OlyWhites’ loss of possession in midfield. Anderson touched the loose ball into the path of Alexandre Pato, who surged between two defenders before sliding the sphere into the path of the supplier.

Anderson took three attempts to score, the first two of which were splendidly blocked by Jacob Spoonley. But it was third time lucky for the Brazilian, who headed the rebound home between the retreating defenders to open the scoring.

The OlyWhites sought a swift riposte, with Simon Elliott - a stand-out in white early in the match - clipping a free-kick towards the far post in the sixth minute, Jeremy Brockie his target. Unfortunately for New Zealand’s most prolific marksman in this campaign, who was later harshly booked and will miss New Zealand’s final match in round-robin play, the ball floated just too far in front of him, and drifted out of play.

For the next twenty-five minutes, Brazil contented themselves with possession football, casually knocking the ball around at will but rarely threatening to lift themselves out of their laconic manner, something which quickly riled the crowd.

After a brief flurry of Mexican waves, boos began to ring around the ground, the patrons’ anticipations of entertainment from the Brazilians not being fulfilled on the park. The South Americans’ lone response? A stinging 35-yarder from Anderson which fizzed past Spoonley’s post in the 24th minute.

Seven minutes later, a dazzling jinking run by Marcelo on the left was crudely curtailed by Cole Peverley. Cue a free-kick from Ronaldinho, who had shown some delightful touches when the mood had taken him to this point. Spoonley punched out well under pressure.

Out of nothing, something absolutely magical in the 33rd minute. And no prizes for guessing who was at its heart! Ronaldinho suddenly decided it was time to play, and by Godfathers, can he play when the mood takes him!

He took out three players with a beautifully weighted pass over the defence for Marcelo to race onto down the left, and his delightfully clipped cross to the near post saw Alexandre Pato drifting across Ryan Nelsen before guiding a stooping header over the defender and Spoonley and into the far corner of the net - the sort of goal you simply can’t defend against.

Six minutes later, out came an absolutely stunning party piece for the purists, which was ruined by Anderson’s straying offside at the crucial moment. But the dancing feet of Ronaldinho, as he twisted and turned his way through four challenges before uncorking a no-look back-heeled pass, will live long in the memory. Simply sumptuous skill, and the lengthy roar of approval confirmed the witnessing of something special.

Either side of this, the OlyWhites had threatened Brazil’s goal. Chris Killen - who was replaced at half-time - saw his shot blocked to safety by combative centre half Alex Silva, while Peverley’s deflected twenty-five yarder gave goalkeeper Renan little cause for concern.

Unlike the last attack of the half as far as Spoonley was concerned, as he had to be sharp in racing out to save at the feet of Alexandre Pato, after he had got the better of Nelsen upon being picked out by Rafinha.

The OlyWhites began the second half boldly, coach Stu Jacobs making two substitutions at the break and another on the hour which hinted at his desire to go down fighting. And initially it was the Kiwis who attacked with gusto, with Elliott’s stinging drive being deflected over by Alex Silva the pick of their efforts during this initial flurry.

Normal service soon resumed, however, with Brazil extending their advantage in the 54th minute. And it brought by far the biggest cheer of the evening - no prizes for guessing who scored! Ronaldinho’s free-kick from wide on the left arrowed low round the wall and through the gathered throngs into the far corner of the unsighted Spoonley’s net - 3-0.

The conductor of the orchestra at work

The boys from Brazil

Ronaldinho thanks God for his first goal, as Michael Boxall ponders what to do to stop the onslaught

Ronaldinho (10) celebrates his penalty with the "Ressies"

The Kiwis, unperturbed, kept pressing, with Elliott and Ian Hogg combining for Craig Henderson’s benefit on the left three minutes later. His cross-shot fizzed across the face of goal, much like Hogg’s cross six minutes later, an effort greedily grabbed by Renan.

In between times, Ronaldinho made it 4-0 from the penalty spot on the hour, drilling home unerringly after he had been crudely upended by Sam Jenkins while working a one-two with Anderson, after Alexandre Pato had instigated this latest raid.

Soon it was time for Brazil to start weaving their wizardry as only they can - you just can’t teach some of the tricks they conjure up; they are purely instinctive, in the moment instances of sheer brilliance, bordering on genius. A joy to behold, be you a fan, an official or even an opponent.

After Ronaldinho’s thirty-yard free-kick had been deflected for a corner in the 72nd minute, the conductor of Brazil’s orchestra worked a short corner routine which saw him toying with Elliott prior to laying the ball off for Marcelo.

His drive was blocked by Nelsen, with Lucas Leiva latching onto the rebound and setting up Anderson, whose cross picked out Alex Silva. The burly centre-back’s header flashed inches over the crossbar.

Five minutes later, Ronaldinho’s vision was to the fore, picking out the darting run of substitute Rafael Sibus from half-way with an inch-perfect pass into his stride. The newcomer, clear of the offside trap, lobbed the advancing figure of Spoonley from just outside the penalty area, but his effort flew harmlessly wide.

Not so Thiago Neves’ 81st minute shot, which cannoned off Hogg into Spoonley’s welcoming gloves, after Ronaldinho somehow wriggled his way out of a tight spot featuring Michael Boxall - he had his hands full dealing with the Brazilian number ten all night - and Henderson, followed by a blocked shot from Marcelo, the rebound of which was steered into Thiago Neves’ path by Ilsinho.

The OlyWhites looked to finish on a high in the final minutes, after some quite dazzling Brazilian play had the fans drooling. They were holding out for a Ronaldinho hat-trick, but instead almost saw the Kiwis reduce the deficit. Substitutes Jenkins - the scorer of Ronaldinho’s jersey post-match - and Greg Draper combined well, but Peverley’s wildly wayward shot was wasteful, to say the least!

Not so Brazil’s final attack of the night, in stoppage time. A delightful interchange between Ronaldinho and Lucas Leiva on the edge of the penalty area allowed Rafael Sibus to steer the ball home through the legs of Spoonley and wrap up a 5-0 win laced with all the magic one expects of Brazilian football at its very best - when you lose to football of this quality, a defeat of this magnitude isn’t so hard to take.

"It was tough to play in, but we knew it was going to be like that", said OlyWhites substitute Daniel Ellensohn afterwards. "A few of the goals were preventable, I guess, but it doesn’t take away from the fact that they were unbelievable.

"I didn’t play in the China game, so I was hoping I’d just get a chance in this game, so when coach Stu Jacobs said, ‘Dan, warm up’, I couldn’t believe that I was going to be involved against Brazil.

"We got the team sheet with their starting line-up and what clubs they play for, and you go through the list - AC Milan, Bayern Munich, Liverpool, Manchester United … Then there’s us, which is Hawkes Bay, Team Wellington … it was unbelievable to be involved in that, for sure".

The OlyWhites can still progress to the quarter-finals with victory over Belgium in Shanghai on Wednesday, in their final group match. With China having just fourteen players available for selection - including two goalkeepers - for their encounter with Brazil, the prospects of the local team progressing beyond this stage look remote, so New Zealand’s destiny is very much in their own hands.

Brazil: Renan; Rafinha (Ilsinho, 65), Alex Silva, Breno, Marcelo; Hernanes, Lucas Leiva, Anderson; Diego (Thiago Neves, 71), Alexandre Pato (Rafael Sobis, 71), Ronaldinho

OlyWhites: Spoonley; Scott (Ellensohn, 62), Boxall, Nelsen, Hogg; Brockie (booked, 44), Peverley, Elliott, Van Rooyen (Draper, 46), Henderson; Killen (Jenkins, 46 (booked, 61))

Referee: Stephane Lannoy (France)

OlyWhites