Midfield talent Ronaldinho fired Brazil into the World Cup semi-finals on Friday with a stunning free kick to clinch a come-from-behind 2-1 win over England in Shizuoka.
But the Paris Saint Germain starlet will have to sit out the semi-final showdown against either Senegal or Turkey after getting himself controversially sent off just seven minutes after his goal.
Brazil’s fightback turned the match on its head after Michael Owen put England ahead in the 23rd minute with a cool right-footed finish past keeper Marcos after defender Lucio miscontrolled a lofted pass from Emile Heskey, who had seen his Liverpool colleague make the run.
It was the Liverpool starlet’s 18th goal for England and his second of the tournament.
Thereafter, England’s Brazilian jinx struck again with a vengeance as they failed to beat their South American rivals for the fourth time in four World Cup meetings.
The two nations were meeting in the finals for the first time since a memorable 1970 encounter which Brazil won 1-0.
The Brazilians have gone on to lift the trophy on all three occasions they have faced England. The two other occasions they met were in 1958 and 1962.
England failed to qualify for the 1994 world cup in the US, when Brazil bagged their most recent triumph.
The samba stars now look poised for a fifth success after overcoming what looked like their biggest remaining obstacle.
England, chasing a second World Cup success after 1966, failed to build up on the lead gifted to them and were shellshocked after Brazil hit them with goals either side of the break.
Rivaldo struck a brilliant equaliser deep into first-half stoppage time and that marked a sea-change in the fortunes of both sides.
The Barcelona superstar slotted his fifth goal of the finals seconds after a brilliant meandering run by Ronaldinho.
Rivaldo didn’t even break his run as he swept a left-foot shot unerringly beyond David Seaman and into the England net.
But if that goal, seconds before the interval, left the game poised on a knife-edge it was nothing compared to what followed in the opening 13 minutes of the second period.
Paul Scholes fouled Kleberson about 40 metres out on the Brazilian right and Ronaldinho promptly flighted the ball over Seaman and into the far corner of the net after spotting the England shotstopper had left his line.
England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson withdrew Trevor Sinclair and sent on Kieron Dyer in an attempt to provide more of an attacking impetus.
But before the Newcastle star could make an impression the Brazilian midfield was left a man short after Mexican referee Felipe Rizo Ramos showed Ronaldinho a harsh red card for a challenge on Danny Mills.
Brazil made a surprise change as Ronaldo gave way to Cruzeiro’s Edilson.
England gambled with a final throw of the dice by withdrawing Owen for Darius Vassell with 12 minutes remaining and Teddy Sheringham for fullback Ashley Cole.
But a Nicky Butt header over the bar was their best chance as the sands of time ran out for Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side. Skipper David Beckham was unable to conjure a last-gasp moment of inspiration. – Sapa-AFP