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GROUP C REVIEW
TURKEY 3-0 CHINA
Turkey eased through to the second phase with a comfortable 3-0 win over Chna - that means the World Cup debutants are the third team to come and go without troubling the scoresheet.
A spectacular early strike from Hasan Sas - when he ran between two defenders and shot into the top corner from 16 yards - and a looping header from defender Bulent Korkmaz, ensured that the result was never really in doubt.
Yang Chen was desperately unlucky not to score China's first-ever World Cup Finals goal midway through the first half, thundering a flying volley against the near post, after a superb cross from Hao Haidong.
Chinese substitute Shao Jiayi was red-carded omn the hour mark for a brutal sud-first challenge on Emre Belezoglu, before midfielder Umit Davala rubberstamped the win with an unstoppable low volley in the 84th minute.
It meant he became the third mohican (after David Beckham and the USA's Clint Mathis) to score in the tournament.
But Turkey's win didn't totally go to plan - goalkeeper Rustu hobbled off in the 35th minute, while Emre Asik and Emre Belezoglu picked up bookings that'll sideline them in the second round.
BRAZIL 5-2 COSTA RICA
BRAZIL progressed comfortably through to the second phase in an entertaining match littered with goalscoring opportunities. But although Costa Rica contributed much to this fine game, their efforts went unrewarded and Turkey advance to the second phase instead.
The pendulum had quickly swung in Turkey's favour. Needing to beat China - and for Brazil to beat Costa Rica - by a total of three goals, two goals each in the opening ten minutes of both games put them in command.
But when, 10 minutes into the second half, Costa Rica narrowed the scoreline to 3-2, they were on schedule to go through. But two further goals by Brazil on the hour mark meant that Alexander Guimares' very entertaining side were almost certainly going home - unless they clawed it back to 5-5.
Throwing everything at the less-than-watertight Brazilian defence, Paulo Wanchope hit the bar and had an effort cleared off the line, Brazilian defender Junior hit his own post, and Mauricio Wright, Walter Centeno, Ronald Gomez and Rolando Fonseca all missed the target when they should have scored.
Brazil opened the scoring on ten minutes when Edilson's cross was prodded by Luis Marin past his own keeper - under pressure from Ronaldo. But the gap-toothed assassin - grinning like a Cheshire cat throughout a hugely enjoyable match - was not to be denied, and bundled home Edilson's corner three minutes later.
Costa Rica fought back but couldn't score, before Brazilian centre-back Edmilson scored the goal of the game. Charging forward from defence, the Lyon defender turned and spectacularly blasted an overhead kick into the roof of the net, after a deflected cross from Junior.
But just a minute later, Wanchope reduced the deficit - slotting home after a neat 1-2 with Wright inside the penalty area.
But Brazil too, were feeling wasteful in front of goal. Rivaldo missed an open goal when he skied a volley, and minutes later, hit the post with a curling free-kick.
After the interval, Ronaldo was thwarted by Erick Lonnis when he bore down on the Costa Rican 'keeper, and then blasted a second chance into the stratosphere.
The Ticos took heart from Brazil's profligacy, and turned the tables on Turkey when Ronald Gomez scored with a lovely diving header at the far post - after a cross from substitute Steven Bryce.
But Costa Rica's joy was shortlived - and within 10 minutes they were 5-2 down. Left-back Junior notched up his second assist of the game - for Rivaldo this time - before getting on the scoresheet himself with a curling effort inside the near post.
BRAZIL 4-0 CHINA
BRAZIL sealed their place in the second round with a brilliant display against China.
Roberto Carlos fired Brazil ahead with just a quarter of an hour gone. The Real Madrid full-back shattered any confidence that the Chinese defence had - with a trademark bullet free-kick.
China were never able to recover, and from then on it was a masterclass in World Cup football for the Asian side.
The Brazilians - who amazingly came into the tournament as outsiders for the title - tore the Chinese apart with a display of wonderful football.
Brazil’s second was Rivaldo’s second of the tournament. A delightful cross from Ronaldinho was met by the Barcelona playmaker, who just stroked the ball past Jiang Jin, scoring his 30th goal for the South Americans.
The supplier turned goalscorer for Brazil’s third. Ronaldo was held back in the Chinese penalty area by both Li Weifeng and Du Wei, and Ronaldinho slammed in the resulting penalty.
Brazil’s fourth and final goal came on 54 minutes. Cafu had shrugged off two challenges wide on the right and fired in a delightful ball into the Chinese penalty area. Ronaldo was there waiting and stabbed the ball home from close range.
The Chinese had their chances but some great keeping from Marcos in the Brazilian goal kept them out and gave Brazil a much deserved clean sheet.
The South Americans will face either Japan, Russia, Belgium or Tunisia in the second round.
TURKRY 1-1 COSTA RICA
TURKEY’S World Cup qualification hangs in the balance - after they played out a 1-1 draw with Costa Rica on Sunday afternoon.
After losing to Brazil last week, Senol Gunes’ side knew that anything less than a draw would see them eliminated from the tournament.
Costa Rica attacked the Turkish defence from the off and were unlucky not to score in the first 10 minutes. After some neat build-up play, Paolo Wanchope volleyed wide.
Both sides had chances to score but it was Turkey who took the initiative 10 minutes into the second-half.
Emre Belozoglu ran down the Costa Rican defence and struck the ball goal-bound. Gilberto Martinez parried the strike but Belozoglu was there to poke in the rebound with his less-favoured right foot.
Turkey were six minutes away from securing all the three points, when Costa Rica struck.
Substitute Winston Parks took advantage of some woeful Turkish defending to score the equaliser from just six yards.
Goalscorer Parks had a chance to win the game for Costa Rica in the last minute, when he rounded Rustu but blasted the ball into the stands.
BRAZIL 2-1 TURKEY
CHINA 0-2 COSTA RICA
QTwo goals in four minutes was enough for Costa Rica as they claimed victory over World cup debutants China.
Both sides had battled out a dull first half before China started to dominate at the start of the second period.
But Costa Rica's break through came on 61 minuteswhen Ronald Gomez curled the ball past keeper Jiang Jin.
And Mauricio Wright sealed victory soon after when he appeared unmarked at the near post to head home.