A and B of soccer confirm special status

“They are a strong team,” Ronaldo, the leading goal scorer at the World Cup finals, said.

The Real Madrid striker struck a goal in each half as South Korea, surprise semi-finalists at the World Cup, often outplayed the Brazilians on a bitter cold day.

Ronaldinho was also quick to pay tribute to the Koreans.

“Whoever is going to play against the Korean team in the next World Cup should prepare a lot,” he said. South Korea took the lead in the seventh minute when striker Seol Ki-hyeon got between the Brazilian defenders to head in a free kick from Ahn Jung-hwan after Brazil’s goalkeeper Dida had been penalised for picking up a back pass.

Ronaldo struck in the 16th minute, finishing well after Ze Roberto had threaded a pass neatly through the middle.

South Korea came back strongly in the second half despite a string of substitutions and World Cup hero Ahn put them back in front in the 58th minute. Brazil looked dangerous on the break, however, and Ronaldo, nominated for FIFA’s world Player of the Year award, scored his second nine minutes later. (Reuters)

Saitama, November 20: Argentina, playing for the first time since their World Cup debacle, struck twice in three minutes early in the second half to beat Japan 2-0 in a friendly international on Wednesday.

The Argentines took the lead two minutes into the second half with a goal by midfielder Juan Pablo Sorin and followed up in the 49th minute when striker Hernan Crespo headed in from close range.

The victory in Argentina’s first match since their shock elimination in the first round of the World Cup finals in Japan in June was a successful start to coach Marcelo Bielsa’s second stint in charge.

But the healing process for Bielsa’s team, who had started the World Cup finals among the favourites, will take a long time. Their fans will expect them to win all such friendlies, the Copa America in Peru in 2004 and the qualifying matches for the 2006 World Cup finals in Germany to make up for arguably their worst ever World Cup performance.

Japan, missing their best European-based players due to club commitments, had the best of a keenly fought first half and striker Naohiro Takahara went close to scoring several times.

The hosts were caught dozing, however, when right winger Ariel Ortega held off a defender in the penalty area and passed to Sorin, who turned sharply and fired past Seigo Narazaki in the Japanese goal.

Juan Sebastian Veron, who initiated that attack, found space in midfield again two minutes later, starting a move that ended with Crespo’s powerful header at the far post. (Reuters)