10mins: Brazil 0 Turkey 0

Honours even as this second semi-final gets under way in lively fashion in the Tokyo's Saitama stadium.

Brazilian defender Lucio draws first blood with strong run down the right flank but Turkey have two shots on target in opneing 10 minutes.

First Emre Belozoglu has his shot caught by keeper Marcos who then deals with Alpay's header from a Tugay free-kick.

Despite Brazil almost missing out on the first finals in their history following a poor South American qualifying campaign, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side had grown in confidence and class throughout their progression to the last four.

Brazil came into the game on the back of five successive wins in the tournament, and with deadly duo Rivaldo and Ronaldo vying with Germany’s Miroslav Klose for the competition’s golden boot award with five goals apiece.

But Brazil’s formidable and renowned Ro-Ri-Ro forward line was finally broken up for this match as Ronaldinho was forced to watch from the sidelines.

The Paris St Germain striker was serving a one-match suspension following his dismissal in the 2-1 quarter-final win over England last Friday.

Edilson was Ronaldinho’s replacement, and the only change made by Scolari to the team which emerged victorious against Sven-Goran Eriksson’s side.

For Turkey, there was the smell of revenge in the air following their controversial defeat to the Brazilians in their opening group game of the tournament now three weeks ago.

In the closing minutes, and with the match tied at one apiece, Aston Villa defender Alpay was given his marching orders for a second bookable offence, a shirt tug outside the area on Luizao.

But South Korean referee Kim Young Soo awarded a penalty from which Ronaldo drove home the winner, while in injury time Rivaldo then feigned injury to his face after Hakan Unsal had driven the ball against his legs, resulting in his instant dismissal.

Alpay claimed action would be taken by Turkey against Brazil, although coach Senol Gunes yesterday attempted to defuse the situation by claiming ‘‘love and peace’’ would be extended to the South Americans.

Gunes named an unchanged team to the one which defeated Senegal in their quarter-final in Osaka, with out-of-form captain Hakan Sukur retaining his place despite being substituted in the last two matches.

The last proved crucial for replacement Ilhan Mansiz scored the golden goal winner against the Senegalese, but was again left on the bench by Gunes.