World Cup 2010: 85th Minute Kaka Flush Fails To Scutter Brazil
Posted on | June 21, 2010
Despite the sending off classy Brazil proved they are the shit.
Brazil 3 – 1 Côte d’Ivoire
In the bowels of Soccer City last night Brazil booked their place in the second round of the World Cup after a comfortable, if uninspiring, win over Ivory Coast.
Despite Kaka’s controversial sending off the Samba Boys had too much for their opponents – this result effectively dumping the West Africans out of the tournament.
Manager Dunga opted to stick with the same team from their opening match, meaning under fire forward Turdinho kept his place in the Brazilian attack.
Speculation suggested 19-year old Gicki, rising star of Brazilian club Excremento, would be handed his World Cup debut in the wake of the Premier League striker’s recent dry spell.
Bad form towards the business end of last season led to Turdinho being dropped from Arsenal’s starting eleven.
With Kaka playing in the hole behind the front two, Brazil were looking for more cutting edge than they showed against North Korea.
The game started slowly, threatening at points to descend into one of the ponderous matches that have so far defined this World Cup. That came to an end in the twenty-fifth minute as Dudu squeezed through the Ivorian defence laying the ball on for a viciously struck Luis Diarria goal.
That proved to be the game’s turning point. The West Africans began to retreat deeper into their half, giving Brazil the chance to have plenty of runs, one of which ended in a spectacular near miss for marauding full back Kraperto Carlos just before the break.
The second half brought much of the same from Brazil. The Ivory Coast, increasingly frustrated at their opponent’s retentive ball control, resorted to dirty tactics to get back into the game.
Several Brazilian players were befouled, including Stoolio, who had to be stretchered off the pitch early in the second half after reckless bodily motion from Kalou left the centre back concussed.
Subsitiute Manura took up the reins admirably however, as the South Americans remained clinical in lieu of their inspirational captain.
Dudu’s frequent trots into the box eventually led to him going for a one-two with Shatner, whose looping cross met the head of Luis Diarria for his number two on the night.
Ten minutes later the Ivory Coastians were sucker punched after a long throw out by keeper Fae Cesar saw Poohé find ample space to produce a third for Brazil.
A 79th minute consolation goal scored by Didier Drogba did little to lift Ivorian spirits and the rest of the match was blighted by petty fouls.
Kaka was sufficiently browned off by the zealous attention of Yaya Touré that his bad tempered retaliation earned him a yellow card. His second, which was given after a perceived elbow on Keita, led to howls of protest from the Brazilian bench.
It was one of several bad decisions on the part of the referee which threaten to smear this World Cup.
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