Japan have gone into half-time 1-1 against Brazil’s Seleçao in their final match in World Cup Group F in Dortmund with a goal from Keiji Tamada, who smashed the ball past Dida to give Japan a shock lead in the 34th minute, but Ronaldo headed an injury-time goal to equalise for Brazil.

Cicinho, Robinho and Juninho Pernambucano all started the match for the Seleçao, with Ronaldo maintaining his place in attack.

Japan head coach Zico started with Naohiro Takahara and Atsushi Yanagisawa rested, being replaced by Keiji Tamada and Seiichiro Maki for the match that Japan knew they had to win to have any chance of progressing.

The game started quite slowly, with both sides taking their time, but it wasn’t long before Brazil starte finding their feet, with Ronaldo testing Japanese keeper Kawaguchi in the early stages.

Robinho had a shot from 20-yards that Kawaguchi palmed away, but the pressure was almost continuous from the world champions.

Kawaguchi tipped another shot from Robinho in the 16th minute, and then made the most amazing save in the 21st minute from a shot from Juninho Pernambucano.

Japan almost took a shock lead when Akira Kaji made a break on goal that was well defended by Arsenal’s Gilberto Silva.

Robinho and Ronaldinho were linking up well in the front of the penalty-area, threading lovely balls through to each other and Ronaldo, who couldn’t find the target and still looked off match-fitness.

Japan were defending well, and were always a threat on the break. It was in the 34th minute that one of these breaks found Brazilian-born Alex, who played a wonderful threaded pass through to Keiji Tamada, who smashed the ball past Dida to give Japan a shock lead in the 34th minute.

Brazil continued to attack with Kawaguchi making some astonishing saves, but Brazil finally got the breakthrough with Ronaldo scoring from a lovely bit of play ending with Cicinho chipping the ball to Ronaldo, who headed the ball into the corner of the net in injury-time of the first-half.

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