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Ronaldo magic sees off Turkey

One of the best: Ronaldo marks his goal

SAITAMA, Japan (CNN) -- A brilliant goal by Ronaldo gave Brazil a 1-0 victory over Turkey and a showdown with Germany in Sunday's World Cup final.

The striker collected a pass on the left, skipped past a challenge, ran at the defence then toe-poked the ball into the corner beyond the fingertips of keeper Rustu Recber. It was Ronaldo's sixth goal of the tournament, making him the top scorer.

After all the upsets during this World Cup, the final in Yokohama, Japan, will be between the two most successful sides in history -- four-times champions Brazil and Germany, who have won it three times.

It will be Brazil's seventh final and their third in a row, equalling the record of Germany who booked their place with a 1-0 win over co-hosts South Korea 1-0 on Tuesday. (Full story)

MORE STORIES • German joy as Ballack ends Korean dream  • Turks get semifinal holiday    RESOURCES Gallery: Brazil, Germany advance     QUICKVOTE Who will win the World Cup final? Brazil Germany View Results

In Turkey, where it was a national holiday to mark their first semifinal in only their second appearance at a World Cup, hopes were dashed. (Story)

The team started brightly but were overran by Brazil's pace and skill.

Rustu kept them in the game with a string of sharp saves. First he turned Cafu's drive over the bar then stopped Rivaldo's shot and pounced on the loose ball as Ronaldo charged in.

He pushed away another Rivaldo effort but was left clutching thin air when the Barcelona striker let fly again and the ball flew just wide.

The keeper also had to react quickly two minutes before the break, grabbing a cross as Ronaldo again looked to pounce.

But once Turkey's defence had cracked there was no way back, although striker Hakan Sukur, without a goal in the finals, tested Brazil's keeper Marcos with a volley from a free-kick 10 minutes before the end.

Rustu made several fine saves

Ronaldo, who started the match despite injuring his leg during the quarterfinal win over England, was substituted with 23 minutes to go, waving to the fans as he walked off.

His replacement Luizao went for a spectacular second but his overhead volley bounced over the bar. Then another substitute, Denilson, sent a long-range lob too high.

Turkey's best first-half chance was in the 20th minute when Alpay Ozalan's header was pushed past the post by Marcos.

This was the second meeting between the two sides, following Brazil's 2-1 win during the group stage, settled by a controversial late penalty as Turkey had two men sent off. (Full story)

Brazil Marcos; Lucio, Edmilson, Roque Junior; Cafu, Gilberto Silva, Kleberson, Roberto Carlos Rivaldo; Ronaldo, Edilson

Turkey Rustu Recber; Fatih Akyel, Bulent Korkmaz, Alpay Ozalan; Umit Davala, Tugay Kerimoglu, Yildiray Basturk, Ergun Penbe, Hasan Sas, Emre Belozoglu; Hakan Sukur

Referee Kim Milton Nielsen (Denmark)