Brazil, as good as it gets into the last eight

Ronaldo hit a post in the 66th and the bar in the 84th, just missing the chance to score a first Brazilian hat-trick at the finals since Pele in 1958.Brazil go on to play in Nantes on Friday against the winners of tomorrow’s second-round match in Paris between Nigeria and Denmark.

The game was preceded by a minute’s silence for Juan Goni a former president of the Chilean football federation, who died at the age of 78 earlier this morning.

Brazil’s Rivaldowas lucky not to be sent off in the third minute for a wild, two-footed challenge on Fernando Cornejo. In fact, he was not even shown a yellow card by French referee Marc Batta.

Brazil took full control after the goal, and Chilean strikers Ivan Zamorano and Marcelo Salas became increasingly isolated in attack. Cesar Sampaio added a second in the 27th minute, slotting in a rebound from the edge of the penalty area when the Chilean defence failed to clear after a free kick by Roberto Carlos rebounded off the wall.

Brazil virtually wrapped the game up when Ronaldo converted a penalty in first half stoppage time for his second goal of the tournament, although Chile goalkeeper Nelson Tapia got a hand to the ball.

Cesar Sampaio was close to an unlikely hat-trick in the 54th minute, following yet another free kick. Dunga again floated the ball over from the left and Cesar Sampaio narrowly failed to make contact at the far post.Chile enjoyed long periods of possession early in the second half, but seemedunwilling to throw too many players forward for risk of shipping further goals.

Ronaldo nearly added a fourth when he burst away on the right but the 21-year-old saw his low, powerful shot thump against the Chilean post. But Chile refused to lie down and deservedly pulled one back in the 68th minute when Taffarel, distracted by the challenge of Zamorano, failed to hold a cross and Salas put in the rebound for his fourth goal of the Cup.

Ronaldo added his second and Brazil’s fourth a minute late after being released by Denilson. He finished clinically.