Turkey Sees Red (Twice) in Loss to Brazil
Brazil, looking nothing like the team that struggled to qualify for the World Cup, came from behind to defeat Turkey, 2-1, Monday in a vastly entertaining game played in front of 33,842 fans in Ulsan, South Korea.
The only blemishes on the match were the two red cards issued to Turkish players late in the game as frustrations boiled over and the feigning of an injury by Rivaldo that led to one of the expulsions.
The Brazilians, shrugging of the loss of defender Emerson, attacked from the outset and were only denied the lead by the fine goalkeeping of Turkey’s Rustu Recber.
The Turks took the lead against the run of play in injury time at the end of the first half when Yildiray Basturk sent a diagonal pass through the Brazilian defense for Hasan Sas to run onto and fire a splendid first-time volley past goalkeeper Marcos.
Brazil responded five minutes into the second half when Rivaldo’s cross from the left was met in the air by Ronaldo, who raced between two defenders and was almost parallel to the ground when he beat Recber from close range.
Brazil clinched the match in controversial fashion in the 86th minute when Rivaldo scored from the penalty spot after Turkish defender Alpay Ozalan pulled down Luizao.
Korean referee Kim Young-Joo red-carded Ozalan and awarded the penalty kick although television replays showed the shirt-tugging foul occurred outside the penalty area.
Kim also ejected Hakan Unsal in the last minute for kicking the ball at Rivaldo in a fit of anger. Although the ball only hit him on the knee, Rivaldo fell to the ground clutching his face. He later admitted faking the injury.
“Obviously, I exaggerated the incident for the guy to be sent off,” he said. “The ball hit my hand and my leg. It didn’t hit me in the face, but that kind of attitude must not be allowed on the pitch. He deserved to have a red card.”
Early today, however, FIFA announced that it is investigating and that Rivaldo could be suspended. Spokesman Keith Cooper told a news conference the organization’s disciplinary committee would study the incident closely.
“We have gone into this World Cup making clear there would be a clamp down on simulation--that’s FIFA-speak for cheating. And if the disciplinary authorities think there is sufficient cause to take a second look at a particular incident they may do so.”
Brazil plays China on Saturday.
Turkey Coach Senol Gunes was displeased with the way the game turned out for his team, which was playing its first World Cup match in 48 years.
“There was tremendous injustice in this result,” he said. “It was a great effort by us and we didn’t get what we deserved, and that was a point.”
