SAITAMA (Japan), June 26: Ronaldo fired Brazil into a final showdown with Germany when he grabbed a 49th-minute winner to give the South Americans a 1-0 semifinal victory over outsiders Turkey Wednesday.

Ronaldo’s shot, which Turkey goalkeeper Rustu Recber got a hand to but could not keep out, decided a tight tussle at Saitama Stadium that the four-times world champions thoroughly deserved to win and takes them through to their seventh World Cup final.

The goal lifted the striker to the top of the tournament scoring chart with six goals, one more than team mate Rivaldo and Germany’s Miroslav Klose. His overall World Cup tally is now 10, second only to Pele, who has 12, in Brazil’s all-time list.

“I will be even happier if we get to win the World Cup,” said Ronaldo. “The goal made me feel happy, it’s a very pleasant feeling. But it’s a goal for the team, to bring us to the final. There I want to score the most important goal of my career.”

Ronaldo’s strike also set up the first ever World Cup clash between Brazil and Germany, the two most successful sides in the tournament’s history with seven wins between them. Germany beat co-hosts South Korea 1-0 in their semifinal Tuesday.

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said: “We are very, very happy. We expected to win by more goals but it didn’t happen.

“We knew Turkey would be a tough opponent after the first round match because they play hard in defence and especially in midfield. I want to congratulate the Turkish players and coach.

“I felt from the start of the match a positive energy from the Brazilian supporters, the bench and the players. I felt this energy and I’m sure the Brazilian supporters are happy.”

Ronaldo will relish the chance to erase the memories of the 1998 World Cup final in France when he was below-par in a dazed display reportedly a few hours after he suffered a convulsive fit as Brazil lost 3-0 to the hosts.

Asked about his memories of that final he said: “I’m not thinking about it. We are going to try to make it a different final with a different ending.”

The twice World Player of the Year was replaced by Luizao after 68 minutes of Wednesday’s semifinal, but Scolari said the substitution was made “in order to keep him fresh for the next match”. Ronaldo said he planned to rest before the final.

Turkey’s coach Senol Gunes said his players felt the effects of the huge expectations back home but praised his team.

“We came to the World Cup to take part in the festival and make an impact and I think we have achieved that goal,” he said.

“I am proud of my players. They have done superbly. I’m sorry we couldn’t give the Turkish people more happiness today.”

“There was a little bit of inexperience but also the effects of the tension back home on the players. They were expecting a lot from us and that led to some mistakes.”

But forward Ilhan Mansiz, scorer of the golden goal against Senegal that took them to the semifinal, was defiant in defeat.

“Our morale was never broken,” he said. “We missed a few chances and we couldn’t score but I wish Brazil all the best”.

Turkey, playing in their first World Cup semifinal, started brightly but were eventually overrun by Brazil’s attacking play.

Rivaldo, who was seeking a record-equalling sixth goal in successive World Cup finals matches, carried the main attacking threat for Brazil in a first half that quickly came to the boil.

Turkey’s short-passing game caused the South Americans problems initially and Alpay Ozalan stretched goalkeeper Marcos with a 20th-minute header.

Brazil were stung into a fierce response and Rustu did superbly to save a fierce Rivaldo drive and the follow-up from Ronaldo.

Rustu was suddenly under siege, denying Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos and, bravely, Edilson before the interval as tempers began to fray.

But if Rustu was Turkey’s first-half hero, he was caught out for Ronaldo’s goal four minutes after the interval.

The Brazilian turned his marker well and bore down on goal with customary menace but his poked effort with the outside of his right foot from 15 metres lacked power and Rustu should have done better than help it into the corner of the net.

Brazil, making light of creative midfielder Ronaldinho’s absence through suspension, continued to have the better of it after that and Kleberson and Luizao, on for Ronaldo, could have made their victory more comfortable.

Turkey go out with their heads held high, though, and there was no repeat of the ugly scenes in Brazil’s 2-1 victory in the group game between the two sides on June 3 when two Turks were sent off, the second after Rivaldo feigned injury.

Brazil now face Germany in the World Cup final on Sunday in Japan’s port city of Yokohama. Since World War Two, either the Brazilians or Germans have featured in every final except one.

Turkey play co-hosts South Korea in the third-place playoff in Taegu Saturday.—Reuters