WORLD CUP USA ‘94: ROUND OF 16 : Brazil Shows Less Is More : Soccer: Despite Leonardo’s ejection--and playing 10 men to 11 for more than 40 minutes--it finds way to prevail.
It was the forearm shiver that was going to shake the World Cup like a dry martini, or maybe a Molotov cocktail.
It was the elbow to the head that stood to bring mighty Brazil to its knees, a red-card violation and a red-flag warning that needed no translation from here to Sao Paolo:
DANGER!
PESKY USA INSECTOS SWARMING AGAIN.
ANOTHER SOUTH AMERICAN SOCCER POWERHOUSE IN MUCHA AGUA CALIENTE.
Taking the concept of taking one for the team to a new extreme, U.S. midfielder Tab Ramos sustained a second-stage concussion, a fractured skull, an overnight stay at Stanford Medical Center and--no kidding--a yellow card in exchange for the expulsion of Brazilian defender Leonardo in the 44th minute of Monday’s second-round match.
It was a lot to give, but the result had history-making implications.
Leonardo’s red card gave the underdog Americans a man advantage for, potentially, the final 46 minutes of regulation play--and overtime, if necessary.
Eleven Americans versus 10 Brazilians.
The Americans viewed the development as the chance of a lifetime.
The Brazilians shrugged and said, “Well, almost an even fight.”
Carlos Alberto Parreira’s penalty-killing unit was something to behold, as was the ball for most of the second half. The Brazilians beheld the ball, and beheld it some more, playing keep-away until the 74th minute when Romario found a seam in the U.S. defense and isolated running mate Bebeto for the game-breaking shorthanded goal.
In all, the Americans played 11 on 10 for 41 minutes--until U.S. defender Fernando Clavijo received an equalizing second yellow card of the game--and did not put a single serious shot on net.
If anybody had an advantage, it was Claudio Taffarel, the Brazilian goalkeeper. Taffarel turned in what was easily the least-taxing shutout of the tournament: 90 minutes, zero saves, please step forward into the quarterfinals.
Nice work if you can get it.
So Miracle On Bermuda evaporated just like that, and now the Americans have four years to chew on the Blown Opportunity By The Bay.
Already, midfielder Hugo Perez’s wheels are grinding.
“We should have played better in that situation,” Perez said. “I think we should (have attacked more).
“I don’t know if the team was afraid or what. I just don’t know. It’s difficult to say.”
Bora Milutinovic, U.S. coach and post-elimination spin doctor, sang a different song, proposing that it’s not unusual to lose to a side that must play down one.
“This is not the first time a team one man down has been able to beat us,” Milutinovic noted.
“Brazil had to play harder and (consequently) had the ball more in the second half. That was the deciding difference.”
And another thing: Brazil is still Brazil, whether it’s playing with a full deck or down a Leonardo or two.
Ralph Perez, an assistant coach on the 1990 U.S. World Cup team and now a technical adviser for the U.S. Soccer Federation, pointed out: “People have to understand that Brazil could beat most teams in this tournament playing with 10 men. And when they play with 11, it seems like 12.”
Leonardo’s red card also served as an electric prod to the slumbering, lumbering Brazilians, stuck as they were in third gear and a nil-nil tie as the first half drew to a close.
“Psychologically,” Perez said, “when a team goes down a man, it tends to dig deeper and work a lot harder.
“Also, when you’re talking about Brazil, you’re talking about a team with intense nationalistic pride. This a country that has been frustrated for 24 years in the World Cup. The players just said, ‘Hey, whether we have to play with 11 or 10, we cannot let the country down.’ ”
So, was Tab Ramos’ broken parietal bone suffered in vain?
“I feel real sorry for Tab right now,” forward Ernie Stewart said. “(But) I’ve seen this happen before in Europe--when you’re down one man, you know you have to give a little extra.
“I guess everyone tries a little harder and the team plays better. That’s the only way to explain it.”
Standing behind his press-row seat, Perez applauded the U.S. players as they shook hands with the winners and trudged off the Stanford Stadium field.
“Let’s face facts,” Perez said. “I’m sure all of us were hopeful for--I’m not going to say a miracle--but maybe a major upset went Leonardo went off at halftime. You’re thinking, ‘Hey, they’ve only got 10 now. We’ve got a real chance at this thing.’
“But nobody in the world plays with 10 the way Brazil can. Today, we played as well as we can play. But Brazil, they’re in another class. . . . It’s been 24 years, but it looks like this might be their World Cup.”
