BRAZIL 2-0 AUSTRALIA

The FIFA World Cup holders took the lead four minutes into the second half through Adriano but they had to survive one or two nervy moments before substitute Fred sealed the victory with a tap-in in the 90th minute. Brazil”s second Group F win secured their advance to the second round with a game to spare, while Australia are well poised to join them, holding a two-point advantage of Japan and their next opponents Croatia.

The match:
1″: Carlos Alberto Parreira started with the same team that had defeated Croatia in the first game with Ronaldo keeping his place in attack. As expected, his Australia counterpart Guus Hiddink included Tim Cahill albeit, surprisingly, at the expense of Harry Kewell.

3″: After receiving some less than complimentary headlines following his first appearance at Germany 2006, Ronaldo gave a glimpse of his magic early on, controlling the ball on his chest on the edge of the area and lobbing it over his head for Kaka to volley inches wide.

5″: Australia refused to be intimidated and skipper Mark Viduka found space to strike a 25-yarder which moved a lot in the air before Dida saved in the centre of goal.

26″: The Seleção“s so-called “Magic quartet” were conjuring up little and Dida again had to be watchful as Brett Emerton fired in a snapshot from just outside the box.

42″: The number nine got much closer five minutes later after a neat back-flick from Adriano. Using strength to shake off his marker, he cracked his 20-yard effort a yard wide.

45+2″: More on the defensive now, the Socceroos were nevertheless finding their men well and after a flowing move from one side of the pitch to the other, Marco Bresciano, on for the injured Tony Popovic, cut inside and struck a dipping 20-yard effort that only just cleared Dida”s bar.

Deadlock broken:
49″: Brazil began the second half in more determined fashion and they were rewarded within four minutes of the restart. Ronaldinho found Ronaldo on the edge of the box and the Real Madrid striker squared to Adriano who cut inside onto his left foot before striking the ball through Scott Chipperfield”s legs and inside the near post. (1-0)

55″: The goal sparked the Australians into action. Bresciano was sent clear down the left but he delayed his shot and was thwarted by a last-ditch tackle. Then, Mike Sterjovski saw his sweetly struck 25-yard half-volley graze the bar.

57″: It was Kewell, however, with his first kick, who missed the best chance. Dida came a long way for a high ball and, under Viduka”s challenge, dropped it at the feet of Kewell but instead of sliding the ball into the empty net the Liverpool man managed to clear the bar with his left-foot shot.

70″: With Brazil on the back foot for once, Kaka, their most in-form player, broke with a typically direct run ending with a low shot from 20 yards which Mark Schwarzer got down well to save.

77″: The Seleção were looking increasingly dangerous on the counter and substitute Robinho almost stole in at the near post after a fine move.

80″: However, the Socceroos were amply showing their fighting instincts and Dida had to scramble to his right to save Bresciano”s acrobatic effort.

82″: Kaka almost made the game safe, meeting Ronaldinho”s corner at the near post but his header crashed off the bar.

84″: Back down the other end, Viduka almost grabbed the equaliser on two occasions. First, with the lightest of headers, he diverted Bresciano”s inswinging free-kick a whisker wide. Then, two minutes later, he lobbed the onrushing Dida but again the effort took paint off the wrong side of the post.

In conclusion:
While not altogether convincing, a second victory for Brazil ensures their progress to the second round. An impressive Australia will rue the missed chances but, provided Japan fail to beat Brazil, a draw against Croatia in their final match will take them through.

Group F Standing

Team		MP	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
	BRA	2	2	0	0	3	0	6
	AUS	2	1	0	1	3	3	3
	CRO	2	0	1	1	0	1	1
	JPN	2	0	1	1	1	3	1

(FIFAworldcup.com)