Dortmund, June 27 :

Defending champions Brazil beat Ghana 3-0 and booked their place in the quarter-finals here today.

Ronaldo slammed in the first goal for title-holders and wrote his name in the record books as the highest goal scorer in world cup history. Ronaldo’s fifth-minute strike was his 15th in the FIFA World Cup, taking him past Germany’s Gerd Muller.

Ghana, the only African side to advance to the second round, stretched Brazil all the way in the opening stages but could not score. They also conceded a second goal right on the stroke of half time from Adriano and lost Asamoah Gyan to a red card in the 81st minute. Their misery was completed when Ze Roberto added a third in the 84th.

The scoreline was not a fair indication of how well Ghana played. It was a start made more remarkable by the African side’s defensive errors than Brazil’s attacking ability, as twice in five minutes they got caught out at the back.

The first time they were saved by a flag incorrectly ruling Ronaldo offside, the second time they pushed up and allowed Kaka to feed in Ronaldo, who dribbled past keeper Kingson and slotted in.

In the 13th minute, Ghana almost paid the price again when Adriano broke free and tried to take it past Kingson, but he tumbled in the box under a challenge from the goalkeeper. Few minutes later, Brazilian goal came under threat when Haminu Draman fired a long-range effort at Dida, but he tipped it over the crossbar.

At the stroke of half hour Ronaldinho had Kingson scrambling with a shot from wide on the left, but he turned it round for a corner. The Ghana goalkeeper then saved well from Lucio’s header and Ghana broke well ending in Drama’s powerful shot, which flew over.

Five minutes later, a mistake by Juan on the left flank gave Ghana a great chance. The Brazilian’s attempted clearance was blocked and fed to Asamoah Gyan, but he could not keep his shot down from close range.

Minutes before the breather John Mensah went extremely close to equalising for Ghana when his header from a corner bounced back off Dida’s legs.

In the first half injury time, Brazil doubled their lead when Cafu raced down the right and his centre across the box was turned in by Adriano.

With game slowly going away from Ghana, Gyan tested Dida, but the Modena striker, back after missing last match through suspension, could only shoot straight at Dida. In the 81 st minute there was more trouble for Ghana as Gyan was sent off after receiving a second yellow card for diving in the Brazil penalty box. Brazil scored their third when Ricardinho played a clever ball over the top of Ghana’s backline and Ze Roberto beat the advancing Kingson, sliding it past him and slotting into an empty net.

Painuly, an editorial consultant with The Himalayan Times, is writing exclusively for the paper from Germany