Big Boys Win
In one of the most riveting games of the young World Cup, Brazil came back from down a goal to defeat upstart Turkey 2-1. Brazil star Rivaldo scored on a penalty kick in the dying moments Monday night in Ulsan, South Korea to end the Turks' spirited chance for a big upset in their first appearance since 1954.
Ronaldo, Brazil's other top attacker, connected on a 50th-minute deflection. He put Rivaldo's curling cross from the left side past Turkish keeper Rustu Receber from 8 yards.
Turkey took the lead when Hassan Sas scored at the close of the first half. He ran onto Yildiray Basturk's deft 20-yard pass and sent it home from close range.
The Brazilians took most of the first half to get on stride. Their first chance came in the 40th minute, when Ronaldo escaped two defenders down the left side and sent a left-footed cross to the center of the penalty area. Rivaldo's downward header went toward the goal, but goalkeeper Rustu Receber dived to his right and scooped it off the line.
In Sapporo, Japan, Christian Vieri scored two first-half goals to give three-time champion Italy a methodical 2-0 victory over Ecuador.
Vieri, picking up his goalscoring form where he left off in the last World Cup, used his powerful left foot to redirect a cross from fellow forward Francesco Totti into the back of the net in the 7th minute.
Exactly 20 minutes later, Vieri took control of a long pass and again beat Ecuador goalkeeper Jose Cevallos. This time, the Internazionale striker's initial shot was partially blocked by Cevallos, but the ball kept moving toward the goal and Vieri gave it another kick from one meter (yard) for emphasis.
At France '98, Vieri also led Italy's attack, scoring five goals in five matches.
Ecuador, a tournament newcomer, had trouble penetrating Italy's experienced backline throughout the match, despite the presence of powerful Southampton forward Agustin Delgado up front.
Also Monday, Mexico defeated Croatia 1-0.
Asia experiences its biggest day in World Cup history Tuesday when co-hosts Japan and South Korea kick off their campaigns and China makes its debut. Asia's three brightest hopes in the tournament will be out to show what they are made of.
China, the world's most populous nation which is rapidly emerging from its cocoon, has just joined the World Trade Organization and won the right to host the 2008 Summer Olympics. Its national side finally steps on to soccer's global stage against Costa Rica in group C.
Japan, which failed to win a single point on their first appearance in France in 1998, are next out, taking on Belgium in group H in Saitama.
South Korean fans, who have been standing in for noticeably absent foreign fans and turning out in the colors of countries from distant continents, can now start cheering for their own team.
South Korea, veterans of five previous finals dating back to 1954, have the best qualifying record in Asia but they will be chasing an elusive first win when they turn out against the tough Poland team in group D in Pusan, South Korea's second-biggest city.
In bad news for the U.S. team, the availability of Clint Mathis, the Americans' most dangerous scorer, and midfielder Claudio Reyna, their most creative player, was downgraded Monday. Mathis had an MRI exam of his sore left knee, which was negative. Reyna has a strained left quadriceps.
"Him and I are really in the same boat," Reyna said. "It's about 50-50." The United States opens against Portugal on Wednesday.