Belgium 0 Brazil 2
Goals from Rivaldo and Ronaldo saw off the challenge of Belgium today and fired Brazil into a mouth-watering World Cup quarter-final showdown with England.
A 67th-minute deflected effort from Rivaldo and a breakaway goal from Ronaldo three minutes from time settled a hard-fought which saw Brazil firmly on the back foot for long periods in the second half.
Belgium created several clear chances and were unlucky to have a Marc Wilmots goal disallowed in the first half.
Struggling to find an answer to Belgium's tight defence and tireless tackling in midfield, Brazil got the breakthrough they needed midway through the second half.
Ronaldinho chipped across the right to Barcelona star Rivaldo, who controlled on his chest, took one touch and then struck a venomous shot on the half-volley.
Belgium keeper Geert De Vlieger had time to react but a deflection off Timmy Simons left him stranded and the ball flew into the net to spark relief amongst the Brazilians.
The goal was cruel on Belgium, who had dominated the second half and caused problems for Brazil's suspect defence, no doubt giving encouragement to England manager Sven-Goran Eriksson and his captain David Beckham, among the crowd with several other members of the squad. England play Brazil in Shizuoka on Friday.
With Belgium chasing an equaliser, Brazil swept upfield in the 87th minute and Ronaldo bagged his fifth goal of the tournament to make him joint top scorer with Miroslav Klose of Germany.
Earlier goalkeeper Marcos had rescued Brazil just after the hour mark, when a swift breakout from defence put Mbo Mpenza clear down the right, who cut back to Wilmots on the edge of the area.
The Schalke 04 player attempted to bend a lofted shot into the far corner of the net but Brazil's keeper was equal to the challenge, parrying wide. Brazil otherwise looked in control throughout the opening 45 minutes at the Kobe Wing Stadium although Belgium twice went close to scoring.
Skipper Wilmots was unlucky to have what looked a like a fine headed goal disallowed when Jamaican referee Peter Prendergast adjudged he had impeded Brazilian defender Roque Junior when leaping to meet a Jacky Peeters cross.
Mpenza had also gone close for the Belgians in the opening minute, with an audacious attempt to chip Brazilian keeper Marcos. The Mouscron striker's effort forced Marcos to scramble back and palm the ball over the bar to deny what would have been a sensational goal.
Otherwise it was all Brazil as underdogs Belgium dropped deep and waited for openings on the counter.
A good early Brazilian chance came when Ronaldinho jinked through the Belgium defence before rolling a pass to an unmarked Ronaldo near the edge of the area, the Inter Milan star's curling shot flying just past the top corner.
The South Americans, who had said before the game they hoped to secure a quick victory, continued to attack the Belgians with gusto.
Ronaldo carved out an opening when he burst down the left side of the penalty area and crossed for Rivaldo, only for the Barcelona player to send an acrobatic attempted volley hurtling over the bar.
Brazil: Marcos, Cafu (capt), Lucio, Roque Junior, Edmilson, Roberto Carlos, Gilberto Silva, Ronaldinho (Kleberson 81), Juninho Paulista (Denilson 57), Rivaldo, Ronaldo (Ricardinho 90)
Yellow cards: Roberto Carlos (28)
Belgium: Geert De Vlieger, Jacky Peeters (Wesley Sonck 73), Timmy Simons, Daniel van Buyten, Nico van Kerckhoven, Mbo Mpenza, Johan Walem, Yves Vanderhaeghe, Bart Goor, Marc Wilmots (capt), Gert Verheyen
Yellow cards: Yves Vanderhaeghe (24)