NANTES, July 4: Brazil and Denmark traded goals in the Beaujoire Stadium last night as happily as if they were swapping shirts. The Brazilians' class shone in patches during their 3-2 entry into the semi-finals even as the Danes' spirited resistance seldom let them relax.Ronaldo had to come to the World Cup favourites' rescue after they had fallen behind in the second minute, setting up goals for Bebeto and Rivaldo, but Denmark drew level at 2-2 soon after half-time before another from Rivaldo restored Brazil's lead.This was the first time Danes and Brazilians had ever met in a World Cup. The latter needed no reminding of the profound and lasting influence of the Laudrup brothers, Brian and Michael, on Denmark's game but the likelihood of the pair exploiting the spaces Brazil were apt to leave at the back remained. Denmark knew whom they had to stop; how was another matter.Ronaldo might be the charismatic figure in Brazil's side but Rivaldo has arguably had a better World Cup so far. Either way, forPeter Schmeichel, it was something completely different.So was the way the match began. There was a goal after 90 seconds. Denmark scored it. Peter Moller galloped past Dunga on the left before being brought down by Junior Baiano near the edge of the penalty area. In a well-rehearsed move, Michael Laudrup slipped the free-kick to brother Brian, whose short, square pass found Martin Jorgensen unmarked amid a clutch of defenders. Taffarel was beaten by a firmly struck shot from close range.Perhaps, Brazil needed to fall behind to produce something special. Anyway, they drew level after 10 minutes with a goal of the utmost simplicity, beautifully worked. With the Danish defence pushing up towards the halfway line, Ronaldo turned on the ball in mid-field and sent Bebeto clear with an angled pass.Bebeto, undaunted by Schmeichel's advancing bulk, calmly drove in the equaliser with a shot inside the left-hand post.Now Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Leonardo and Bebeto began to pull the defence around with theaccuracy and intuition of their passing and movement. It was some time before Cafu and Roberto Carlos, the Brazilian wing-backs, decided to join in the fun.In the 26th minute, Ronaldo produced another exceptional pass to help Brazil take the lead. This time, Rivaldo was the recipient, sent through by a ball angled towards the left-hand byline and beating Schmeichel at his near post. Not that Denmark's game was quite up. So, for the second half, Denmark replaced Allan Nielsen in mid-field with the more aggressive Stig Tofting. Their only course lay in a counter-offensive which might put Brazil off their stroke. Tofting soon responded with a rising shot over from 25 yards after Brian Laudrup and Jorgensen set up the chance. Brazil could not afford to relax just yet, as events were soon to show.Four minutes after half-time, Roberto Carlos attempted an overhead clearance that misfired. As Jorgensen went for the loose ball, it spun to Brian Laudrup, who was clear to the right of goal, and he brought thescores level once more with an emphatic shot into the roof of the net.Once again, the night had a tight contest on its hands. Ronaldo and the rest of the Brazilians attack, moreover, were starting to run into cul-de-sacs when they took on a Danish defence now closing down space to better effect. And worryingly for Brazil, Brian Laudrup was increasingly finding space on the flanks when he was not working in tandem with his brother through the middle.If in doubt, score a goal; that is the Brazilian way. A minute before the hour, Rivaldo gathered a pass from Dunga and from 25 yards, drove an assured left-footed shot beyond Schmeichel's dive and inside the right-hand post.Apparently, Brazil were playing a game of catch-as-catch-can. It was fun to watch and an utter contrast to the sweated labours of France and Italy earlier (Observer News Service)
