A Ronaldo-inspired Brazil battled back from a goal down to beat Japan and eliminate the Asian champions from the tournament.

The Real Madrid forward equalled Gerd Muller's World Cup scoring record of 14

with a goal in each half after Keiji Tamada had given Japan an unlikely lead in

the 34th minute.

Japanese goalkeeper Yoshikatsu Kawaguchi frustrated Brazil with a string of

fine saves until first-half injury-time when Ronaldo equalised.

Second-half goals from Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto guaranteed Brazil the

win before Ronaldo rounded off the victory with a curling finish from the edge

of the area.

The result was no less than Carlos Alberto Parreira's team deserved after a

marauding opening to the Group F game which somehow failed to yield a goal for

the world champions.

With four minutes on the clock, Kaka crossed into the centre and Ronaldo beat

Yuji Nakazawa to the ball - but the Real Madrid man glanced his header wide of

the target.

That was a taste of things to come for the Japanese defence, however, and

three minutes later Ronaldo was fed by Ronaldinho - but his left foot shot was

pushed around the post for a corner by Kawaguchi.

It was the first of a string of saves for Kawaguchi as the Japan goalkeeper

almost single-handedly kept the illustrious Brazilian strike-force at bay.

In the 11th minute the former Portsmouth goalkeeper parried Robinho's effort

to safety and a further five minutes later he again denied the Real Madrid

forward, this time pushing the ball over the crossbar.

Next up it was Ronaldo's turn to test the resolve of the Japan defence and

once again Keisuke Tsuboi was found wanting, although Kawaguchi saved his team

again as he steered another goalbound effort around the post.

The Kawaguchi show continued midway through the half when he tipped Juninho's

drive over the bar and it looked like it might not be Brazil's night.

That sense was heightened in the 34th minute when the Japanese took the lead.

Seiichiro Maki had earlier glanced a header across the face of goal but it was

with the team's first real strike on goal that Keiji Tamada gave the Asian

champions the advantage.

A perfectly weighted through ball from Brazil-born Alex released Tamada, who

turned to lash a first-time left-foot effort over Dida's head, sending the Japan

fans into raptures.

Despite being behind, though, Brazil maintained their composure and, with the

clock ticking into injury-time, they pulled level with a goal engineered by

Ronaldinho's vision.

The Barcelona man ran at the Japan defence before picking out Cicinho on the

right side of the penalty area and his header back across the face of goal was

nodded home by Ronaldo.

If the first half was about heroic goalkeeping and missed chances, the second

half saw Brazil make amends.

Six minutes after the restart Ronaldo went close with a curling effort but in

the 53rd minute Brazil finally took the lead as, for the first time in the game,

Kawaguchi took his eye off the ball when Juninho let fly from distance and his

effort found the back of the net as the goalkeeper flapped at the shot.

By the 59th minute the game was as good as over as a contest as Ronaldinho's

delightful ball through the midfield found a rampaging Gilberto down the Brazil

left and he cracked home a low shot which gave Kawaguchi little chance.

With nine minutes remaining Ronaldo completed the scoring with his second goal

of the evening after a neat exchange of passes with Juan and the burly Brazilian

curled an exquisite shot past the goalkeeper from the edge of the area.