Brazil chalked up their best win at the World Cup finals since 1986 as the four Rs -- Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Ronaldo -- scored the goals that gave them a 4-0 victory over China on Saturday.
The four-times world champions survived a sticky opening before cruising to a 3-0 halftime lead with a spectacular Roberto Carlos free-kick, a close-range goal by Rivaldo and Ronaldinho penalty. Ronaldo scored the fourth early in the second half.
Although World Cup debutants China were outclassed, they played some neat football in midfield but appeared to lose composure when they reached the danger zone.
China, missing key defenders Fan Zhiyi and Sun Jihai, but backed by a noisy contingent of about 20,000 in the crowd, put Brazil under early pressure as they made a bold start.
But their dreams of adding to the list of World Cup upsets lasted only until the 15th minute when Roberto Carlos set Brazil on their way with one of his trademark booming free-kicks.
The defender fired into the far corner from about 30 metres, the ball flashing past the Chinese wall and into the net before goalkeeper Jiang Jin could react.
Brazil slowly began to find their rhythm and Cafu had a shot saved by Jiang before Rivaldo made it 2-0 after 32 minutes, volleying in a Ronaldinho cross for his second goal of the tournament.
Captain Ma Mingyu had China's best first-half chance in the 37th minute but his shot deflected off a defender's head.
Ronaldinho scored Brazil's third from a penalty in first-half injury time after Chinese defender Li Weifeng pulled Ronaldo back.
The fourth came in the 55th minute when Cafu ran to the byline and put over a low cross for Ronaldo to score his second goal of the competition.
China's best spell followed as Ma was sent clear but could not control the ball and a minute later Zhao Junzhe hit the post from the edge of the penalty area. In the 70th minute, a Shao Jiayi free kick was turned around the post from Marcos.
It was Brazil's biggest win at the finals since they beat Poland 4-0 in the second round in Mexico in 1986.
Brazil lead group C with six points and will be in the last 16 if Turkey fail to beat Costa Rica on Sunday. Otherwise, they need a point against the Central Americans on Thursday to reach the second round.
China have no points from two games and need an unlikely combination of results to proceed.
