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level at 1-1 after extra-time in their World Cup semi-final here on Tuesday.
After a tight first half, shaded
by the Dutch, Ronaldo scored just after the
break, but a late header by Patrick
Kluivert pushed the match into extra
time at the windy Stade Velodrome.
It was the tournament's third penalty
shootout. France beat Italy in
the quarter-finals and Argentina beat
England in the second round, both
by scores of 4-3.
Ronaldo opened the scoring only
20 seconds into the second half. A long
searching pass from Roberto Carlos
set Ronaldo free and in the chase
with Phillip Cocu it was the 21-year-old
who got to it first. He made no
mistake as he coolly slipped the
ball between the legs of Edwin Van der
Sar.
Argentina's Batistuta and Italy's
Christian Vieri, who are both out of the
tournament, lead the goalscorer
list with five goals, but the Inter Milan star
became Brazil's topscorer at these
finals with four and did much to deflect
criticism of his performances.
He has now scored 30 goals in 41
internationals.
Just when it looked Brazil were
through Kluivert pulled off a sensational
equalizer in the 87th minute to
push the match into extra time. Ronald de
Boer floated in a cross and as
Kluivert rose to meet it Junior Baiano
seemed to be rooted to the ground,
leaving the 22-year-old AC Milan a
free header.
In extra time, Brazil edged it,
with Robert Carlos looking dangerous on
the left as he set up attacks.
A Ronaldo header was saved on the line by
the head of Frank de Boer and
he had a shot saved by Van der Sar diving
to his left.
Substitute Pierre Van Hooijdonk
had a freekick saved by Taffarel following
an Emerson foul on Edgar Davids.
Then Frank de Boer turned playmaker
to hit a defence-splitting past
to Kluivert, whose left foot shot just went
past Taffarel's left hand upright.
In the second half of extra time,
Ronaldo turned and ran into the Dutch
box but Ronald de Boer, tireless
in runs the length and breadth of the
pitch, made a goal-saving tackle.
Real Madrid's Clarence Seedorf came
on for Wim Jonk as Hiddink tried
other options to gain the upper hand.
In the shootout, Ronaldo converted
into top left corner before Frank de
Boer equalized. Rivaldo hit home
in the top right, Bergkamp scored in the
bottom right and Emerson made
it 3-2 to Brazil with a shot into the top left
hand corner.
But Phillip Cocu, ordered to respot
the ball, had his shot saved as Taffarel
dived to his left. Brazilian captain
Dunga, who scored the winning
shoot-out penalty to give Brazil
the trophy in 1994, made it 4-2. Ronald de
Boer had to score to keep Dutch
hopes alive but his shot to the right was
brilliantly saved by Taffarel.
Coach Mario Zagallo broke in to
tears as the Brazilian players celebrated
their sixth time in the final.
