World Cup: Ronaldo to increase scoring record

Brazil had to work for its 3-0 win over the Black Stars, who pressured enough to create chances but kept shooting either just off the mark or well within reach of goalkeeper Dida.

Photo: World Cup: Ronaldo to increase scoring record

“Today’s game was as we expected,” Brazil coach Carlos Alberto Parreira said. “It wasn’t easy and we knew it wasn’t going to be easy, 3-0 seems easy, but it wasn’t.”

The Brazilians used long, penetrating passes to build each of its goals, but Ronaldo’s tournament-record 15th was the only one it would need. With its 11th straight tournament win, Brazil took another step toward a fourth straight World Cup finals, and next faces France in a rematch of the 1998 final.

On the counterattack, Kaka sent a second long pass up the heart of the field to an unmarked Ronaldo, who touched the ball once toward Richard Kingson, then sent the goalkeeper flailing with a brilliant stepover move. Ronaldo cut left, and with a defender closing, popped the ball into the net.

Ronaldo said he never intended to break the World Cup scoring record - it came to him, according to the AP.