Olympics 2000 - The Football Tournament

Sep 14, 2000
Brazil - Slovakia 3:1 (final)
Brazil with obvious problems against the concentrated Europeans
-0:1 ('26) # 17 Porazik, set up by #11 who curves around two casual defenders
-1:1 ('30) Edu
The Chile-Morocco game shows what an experienced world class striker can do at such a tournament - can Brazil win without Romario?
-2:1 ('67) a Fabio Aurelio low cross from the left gets deflected into the goal
-3:1 ('injury time) it is #15 Mozart who composes a goal for #10 Alex

Japan - South Africa 2:1 (final)
-0:1 ('31) Nomvete
-1:1 ('45) Takahara
-2:1 ('79) Takahara
Nakata who plays for Roma in Italy set up the decider by a great through ball on Takahara, who is the big Japanese hope in attack since the U20 world championships and really makes a difference compared top the striking power at France 98.

day 1

day 2

all groups:

DAY 2

Slovakia - Japan 1:2 (final)
-0:1('67) Nakata
-0:2('74) Inamoto
-1:2('83) Porazik
A success for Japan which proved to be not too much worth as the result from the other group match between South Africa and Brazil arrived.
A defeat in the last match to Brazil will mean out for the Asians if at the same time South Africa wins against Slovakia.
What even makes it worse for Japan is that key player Hidetoshi Nakata received his second yellow card and will be suspended for the third match. He will be joined by defender Morioka.
And: Brazil will be hot because they will face elimination if they do not win.
It is a tough story for Japan who 1996 were in another 'group of death' with Brazil and Nigeria. And despite winning two of their three matches (one of them against Brazil) they had to go home on goal difference with 6 points (Hungary was the fouth team in the group).

Even Slovakia has left a minimal chance to advance. They need something like to beat South Africa by two goals or better more and must hope Japan does similar to Brazil. (The details are more complicated)

Brazil - South Africa 1:3
-0:1 ('10) Quinton Fortune
-1:1 ('11) Edu
South Africans are in a must win situation, especially now with Japan leading. If they don't they will depend on others.
-1:2 ('74) Nomvete
-1:3 ('90) Lekoela
In the first half Brazil created several chances but scored only one goal, a header by Edu which immediately followed a beautiful free kick goal by Quinton Fortune that had given South Africa the lead. South Africa had begun with aggressive challenging which had cost Quinton Fortune his second yellow card of the tournament and so a match suspension for the last match. The forwards around Benni McCarthy proved their talent but the majority of the game was played in the South African half of the field.
In the second half South Africa seized control of the game though without creating chances. Until a lack of concentration in the Brazilian defence led to a corner which South Africa played indirect. The cross from the left hand side by Lekoela then precisely found Nomvete who unleashed a clear header despite being surrounded by three defenders. The keeper had no chance.
Brazil now accelerated their game but balls did not bounce their ways and South Africa had the biggest chance after 86 minutes when the Brazilian keeper saved twice.
In the 90th minute they sealed the match when Lekoela shoved the ball into the wide open goal after the Brazilian keeper had deflected a sharp shot by Matsau who had luckily got free to the goal with the ball before when an attempted clearence hit him and bounced back perfectly.
In injury time the good Soth African keeper Baron denied a Ronaldinho free kick the way into the goal.

Japan	2	4-2	6
South Africa	2	4-3	3
Brazil	2	4-4	3
Slovakia	2	2-5	0

first two will qualify for quarter-final
*=qualified

Still everything possible in this group. Even Slovakia have a theoretical chance before the last match. It is also possible that a team with 6 points will go home.

all groups:

DAY 3

Brazil - Japan 1:0

Before the match:

Japan 2 4-2 6

South Africa 2 4-3 3

Brazil 2 4-4 3

Slovakia 2 2-5 0

first two will qualify for quarter-final
Tough for Japan: With their most important players, captain Ryuzo Morioka and midfielder Hidetoshi Nakata, suspended they will face a Brazil who know what the match is about. If they survive this one they can be called a first class team.
They can expect South Africa to win the parallel match and could go out the second successive time with 6 points in a 'group of death'. The last time it was 1996 with Nigeria and Brazil.

1st half:
-1:0('5) Alex
-('15) almost the second goal: fast counter attack, but the keeper closes down in time on #11 Geovanni
-('18) the Brazilian keeper puts himself in the way of attackers as Japanese have come through
-('19) the Brazilian keeper again against a long range free kick by #10 Nakamura
-in the Brazil - South Africa game Brazil has had problems against the agressive physically superior Africans, here it is the other way round concerning the physics and a little different as well in the consequence: the Japanese try to play around the Brazilians with fast combinations and running, Brazil answers with fast sharp break attacks, once they have conquered a ball.
-('23) one of those very dangerous looking Brazilian counter attacks ends with a hectic finishing, a shot wide
-('27) Brazil dangerous by a free kick cross, but the header fades wide
-the match is played in the Brazilian half, Japan does quite well but yet the crowded defence has always some feet in between in the penalty area. On the other side the field is wide open for Brazilian counter attacks.
-('37) After a Japanese spell with several corners, Brazil answer with a counter attack
-('42) a Ronaldinho header misses wide by centimeters
-the Japanese grip has loosened a bit
-('45) Nakamura falls in the penalty area, under physical pressure from his back by a defender, and wants a penalty but does not get it.
-('58) Ronaldinho threats on the counter attack
-Japanese play a great second half and are cheered by a big noisy support group in the crowd

halftime 1:0
It looks a difficult task for Japan, yet they are in the second round because the South Africa match is still 0:0 but they will have to continue seek the equaliser here.

2nd half:
-('50) opportunity for Alex on one of those fast breaks, but his shot goes wide
-('52) Miura has to be careful, he already has seen yellow
-('53) Takahara becomes dangerous, but the defence is too crowded - corner
-('53) it is played short and the Japanese combinate into the penalty area where they get two big scoring opportunities, one saved, one deflected wide
-('54) the ensuing corner results in a header from difficult angle which is touching the goalpost and goes out
-('55) another good scene by the now dominating Japanese
-hopefully they do not get distracted by the Slovakian goal - they must play their game
-the relentless Japanese attacking attempts are cheered up by the crowd as they learn of the Lovakian second goal
-('76) what a free kick by Nakamura - but it goes narrowly wide
-Japanese continue to attack
-('83) a nice attack by Brazil but the keeper comes out in time to intercept
-('86) Japanese win another header after a corner but ball goes wide
-4 minutes injury time to be added, Brazil play slow now
-('injury time) Alex with a big opportunity but his attempt goes wide left
-Brazil controls the match now, the final whistle blows and both advance thanks to Slovakia, Brazil win the group

South Africa - Slovakia 1:2
-0:1 ('47) Czinege
-0:2 ('72) Slahor
-1:2 ('75) McCarthy

Before the match:
A 'comfortable' situation for the South Africans. While Japan and Brazil will anxiously follow the scoreline from this match, winning is just enough for South Africa.
More complicated it will become with other results: A draw would mean they will still be through if Brazil draws too (or loses). Losing by one goal is still enough if Brazil loses too.
Winning by by two goals would suddenly bring Slovakia back into the game: With Brazil losing and the exact scorelines even they have a chance.