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2010 World Cup: Portugal 0-0 Brazil – Report

Angela Asante, June 25 2010,
It wasn't the best game of the 2010 FIFA World Cup tournament. In the end, the 0-0 result between Portugal and Brazil was enough to keep things as they were before Match-day Three. Brazil qualified on top, while Portugal joined them into the next round as runners-up.

2010 World Cup: Portugal and Brazil in action.
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Portugal vs Brazil, First Half: Brazil Set The Tone, Portugal Deal With It

Portugal’s lineup looked good with Pepe being given his first start since last year. Danny was also included in the starting XI at the delight of Portuguese fans who therefore anticipated an attacking game. Brazil commenced well but couldn’t put pressure on their rivals through the number of consecutive corners they won inside the opening minutes of the match. Barcelona’s Dani Alves used his attacking instinct to make a long shot in view of troubling Eduardo.

Portugal’s goalkeeper opposite number Julio Cesar also had to deal with danger when Fabio Coentrao made a great cross from the left hand side. But Cristiano Ronaldo ball from the rebound of Cesar’s punch was far from being impressive. The Real Madrid forward was being pretty well contained by Brazil’s tight defense just as the Portuguese were dominated in their own area on the field.

 

A moment of blindness struck Portugal in the 30th minute when Dani Alves initiated a move on the offensive. Striker Nilmar was inches away from completing Brazil’s attack but his shot from a tight angle dramatically hit the post at the relief of Portugal’s helpless keeper Eduardo. On the break, Portugal could have punished Nilmar. Instead, Tiago went into the referee’s book for what the referee judged as a dive in the penalty box.

A minute later, Cristiano Ronaldo thought he was through on goal with just the keeper to round up and score but the flag was up for offside. Luis Fabiano flashed a bouncing header just across the face of goal in response. In the 44th minute, Coach Carlos Dunga saved Felipe Melo who had picked up a yellow card seconds before for a foul on Pepe. Melo went off in the first half for Josue. Dunga was certainly right in his decision as the first 45 minutes had already produced 7 yellow cards in total.

Cristiano Ronaldo closed the action of the first period with a firing shot that bounced just off target. The half-time result meant that Cote d’Ivoire’s 2-0 lead over Korea DPR counted for nothing.
 

Portugal vs Brazil, Second Half: Nothing Extraordinary2010 World Cup: Portugal's Cristiano Ronaldo exchanges jerseys with Brazil's Lucio.

A better squaring of the ball by Cristiano Ronaldo would have certainly fired Portugal into the lead after only three minutes gone into the second half. But the Portuguese was well challenged by Brazil’s Lucio so Julio Cesar could go back on his goal line. Simao Sabrosa’s effort on the 54th minute was the best of the game since its start. The Atletico Madrid winger lashed a powerful strike from the left which visibly troubled the keeper.

Just before the hour mark, Raul Mereiles should have made it 1-0 to Portugal. How could the Porto midfielder fail to finish Cristiano Ronaldo’s explosive run with a tap in? In the process of his poor shot, Raul Mereiles badly injured Julio Cesar too. But the goalie was fit enough to continue the game after receiving some treatment from the medical staff. The game seemed to lose its spark; time was almost up while the excitement was fading away.

Ramires could have clinched a late winner when he fired the ball from long range at everyone’s surprise. But Eduardo amazingly cleared the danger to keep Portugal’s clean sheet record. At the other end of the field, Lucio visibly defended the ball with his arm but the referee wasn’t interested in awarding Portugal with a penalty despite Ricardo Carvalho’s calls. The match ended 0-0. One 7-0 victory in between two goalless draws were therefore enough for the 2006 World Cup semifinalists to qualify into the Last 16 in South Africa.
 

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