Heavyweight Brazil gave lightweight China a pounding last night at the Cheju World Cup Stadium in Seogwipo, South Korea, downing "the Reds" by four unanswered goals.
It was a beating from which China must lick its wounds and come out fighting for its last match in its first World Cup Finals appearance, against Turkey on Thursday.
Three goals in the first half and one in the second was a fair indication of Brazil's dominance, but China had its chances and will now know exactly how far it has to go to be a world power in soccer.
The control and movement of China was English first division in class, though China made up for it with honest toil. In every department except heart, Brazil was the master.
A splendid free kick from Roberto Carlos opened the floodgates for Brazil, while Rivaldo and Ronaldo both scored their second goals in as many matches. Ronaldinho scored from the penalty spot.
Brazilian coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said after the game: "We know China has improved a lot in football, but we already knew what they were capable of. So we did our best, regardless of the opponent.
"We knew we were the better team because we are more experienced. It was a good match."
China's coach Bora Milutinovic said that despite losing so heavily he was proud of his team's performance. "I'm very happy with how we played. Normally we should have scored a goal."
Asked whether it was difficult for China to move into the second round, he said, "It is, but I hope we have some chances against Turkey.
"We are growing, but we need to understand who we play."
China got off to an encouraging start with Hao Haidong making a nice run down the left flank to go past an embarrassed Cafu and give Qi Hong a shot at goal from 30m out that was mishit and dribbled to 'keeper Marcos.
Every time Brazil touched the ball there were jeers and if China cleared there were cheers from well over half of the 36,750 crowd.
When Ronaldo was dispossessed or Roberto Carlos nutmegged, it was cause for celebration for China's fans, who never stopped shouting for their team, though some left before the end of the game.
Eventually, however, class told and as so often happens for Real Madrid and Brazil, it was Roberto Carlos who said it best, with a wicked free kick from 30m out that sailed to the left of the wall and an outstretched Jiang Jin in goal.
One shot on target, one goal for Brazil. It was a snowball that promised an avalanche.
On 19 minutes Cafu won the ball in his own half, ran through one player and sped toward goal. He unleashed a right-footed shot that was deftly parried by Jiang and a second goal inside 20 minutes was narrowly averted.
Then a deep cross from the right found its way to Ronaldinho who was skulking on the left just inside the penalty area. He flicked the ball across the face of the goal to an unmarked Rivaldo, who slotted home with ease.
China was becoming swamped and just before the break Brazil scored its third goal. Following a sweet passing movement, Ronaldo made a charge on goal but was clearly pulled back by his shirt. Swedish referee Frisk Anders pointed straight to the penalty spot and Ronaldinho had the simplest of tasks to side foot into the left corner, with Jiang going the wrong way.
When the second half opened it looked as if China was going to pack the defense with a thin red wall in an attempt to keep down the number of goals.
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