Rivaldo keeps up scoring record as Brazil knocks England out 2-1

<br>SHIZUOKA, Japan (AP) _ Rivaldo kept up his incredible record of a goal in every game and Ronaldinho caught David Seaman off his line with a dipping 30-meter free kick as Brazil came from behind to

Friday, June 21st 2002, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

SHIZUOKA, Japan (AP) _ Rivaldo kept up his incredible record of a goal in every game and Ronaldinho caught David Seaman off his line with a dipping 30-meter free kick as Brazil came from behind to knock England out of the World Cup with a 2-1 victory Friday.

Michael Owen had opened the scoring for England in the 23rd minute, pouncing on a defensive error by Lucio.

But Brazil, enjoying overwhelming possession, scored either side of halftime to set up a semifinal against Senegal or Turkey.

With four minutes injury time added on in the first half, Rivaldo equalized after a piercing run by Ronaldinho.

After 50 minutes, Ronaldinho scored the winner. The Paris St. Germain midfielder was sent off seven minutes later for a tackle over the ball on Danny Mills.

England forced a corner straight from the kickoff, but after that it was mostly Brazil.

In the 14th minute, a fierce Roberto Carlos free kick took a big deflection off Paul Scholes but flew wide of Seaman's right post.

In the 19th, Ronaldo burst down the left and exchanged passes on the edge of the box with Rivaldo, but the Inter Milan striker's shot lacked power and went straight at Seaman.

Against the run of play, Owen gave England the lead.

Scholes broke up an attack and fed Emile Heskey, whose long ball was deflected into Owen's path by Lucio on the edge of the area. The Liverpool striker coolly waited for goalkeeper Marcos to dive to his right before lifting the ball into the opposite corner of the net.

It was Owen's second goal of the tournament.

Brazil continued attacking and Seaman had to save with his legs from Ronaldo. In the 32nd, Roberto Carlos, pushed wide by David Beckham, powered a left-footed drive into the side netting.

The first half ended with England employing the same tactics that led to a 1-0 win over Argentina in the group stages. At times, there were nine Englishmen behind the ball, with Heskey and Owen alone up front.

With four minutes added on after an injury to Seaman, Brazil leveled the score to go into the break with a huge psychological lift.

Ronaldinho ran straight through England's midfield defensive wall and laid the ball off to the right of the area for Rivaldo who expertly placed the ball into the right-hand corner of Seaman's net.

It was his fifth goal in five games, and just reward for Brazil, which had dominated possession.

It was the Barcelona man's fifth goal in five games, equaling the five-goal tally of fellow striker Ronaldo.

Five minutes into the second half, Ronaldinho's free kick _ far out on the right _ gave the Brazilians the lead.

Seaman looked as though he was expecting a cross into the middle. Despite backpedaling, he couldn't keep the ball out as it dropped into the top right-hand corner of his net.

The game swung back in England's favor in the 57th when Ronaldinho was shown a straight red card for catching England's Danny Mills on the ankle. He will now miss the semifinal.

It was Brazil's turn to go on the defensive.

After 70 minutes Ronaldo _ failing to score for the first time at the World Cup _ was replaced by Edilson.

In the 74th, Mills fired in from the right but his shot was deflected over the bar by defender Roque Junior.

England coach Sven-Goran Eriksson gambled by replacing left back Ashley Cole with forward Teddy Sheringham. Owen, suffering from a groin strain in the run-up to the game, was replaced by Darius Vassell.

But England failed to capitalize on its one-man advantage. A couple of free kicks from England's David Beckham _ who had a quiet game _ failed to find anybody in the box. Midfielder Nicky Butt came closest in the 90th minute with a header over the bar.