CERRITOS, CA (smt) - Michael Ballack scored off his own rebound for his second consecutive game-winner in the 75th minute to lead 1E-Germany (5-0-1) past co-host 1D-South Korea (4-1-1), 1-0, to advance to its 7th World Cup final. Ballack, however, will miss the Final because he picked up his 2nd yellow card of the second round in the 71st minute, a tactical foul that prevented South Korea from breaking into the penalty box. Korea, on a day less rest than Germany, ran out of gas and could not knock off its fourth straight European power. South Korea, though, will remain in Korea for the consolation match while Germany will head to Yokohoma, Japan. Germany won its third straight 1-0 match and GK Oliver Kahn has not given up a goal since the 94th+ minute in match two vs Sweden. Germany ousthot South Korea 16-6 (6-3 on goal) mainly because Korea was making one too many passes and had one too many touches.

Ronaldo scored his tournament-leading sixth goal four minutes into the second half as 1C-Brazil (6-0) held off 2C-Turkey (3-2-1), 1-0, in the much anticipated rematch. Brazil had many chances to extend the lead but Turkey GK Rustu Recber kept his team in the match. Rustu had not given up a goal since the second match vs Costa Rica. Brazil ousthot Turkey 18-9 (11-3 on goal) despite contolling just 44% of the play.

CLASH OF THE TITANS: Brazil and Germany will both be appearing in their 7th final (this is the 13th World Cup) but this will be the first time they will meet in the final. Brazil is 4-2 and Germany/West Germany 3-3 in the finals. Since 1938, either Brazil or Germany has been in the final except for 1978 when Argentina beat the Netherlands.

BATTLE OF THE CINDERELLAS: Co-host South Korea's energetic run will continue in the third place match, and once again, they'll have the home crowd advantage. Turkey also plays entertaining soccer and this should be a good matchup between two teams who have never made it out of the 1st round before and 3rd place matches have always been entertaining as both teams really have nothing to lose (no one remembers who finishes 3rd).

WHY?: All the talk this week is why the San Diego Padres keep pitching to San Francisco Giant slugger Barry Bonds in dangerous situations. Bonds had three homers the past two games. Well, along the same lines, why did three Turkish defenders give Ronaldo so much room to make his way into the penalty box and toe poke a shot past the surprised Recber for the only goal of the match?

DEFENSE: In the last five matches, there have only been four goals scored (0.8 goals/match). Now Germany and Brazil have +12 and +13 goal differentials and have scored 16 and 14 goals, respectively. However, Germany has a record five shutouts (including the last 4 matches (360 minutes)) while Brazil has given up just four goals. Germany has also struggled on offense, scoring just six goals in their last five matches, the last two by Ballack who won't be in the lineup on Sunday.

WHERE ARE THE PKs?: Remember all the controversies surrounding gift penalty kicks. Well, there have been no PKs taken (not including the PK tiebreaker) in the quarters or semis (last six matches). There were 18 taken in the first 56 matches (13 for 18) or about 1 every 3.1 matches.

Germany's win was only picked by FLYING ELVI (6th, 80) who moved into position to take first. Brazil's win was picked by three people and all three will take home at least $20. BERNISAM UNITED FC (83) was knocked off her perch she has held since the second round began and can't finish higher than 4th place. HOOTY MCBOOB (5th, 81) and LUIS ENRIQUE'S ARMADA (7th, 79) were eliminated with Brazil's win. So the trio of PUNA (88), DANNY BOY (86), and DIMPLES (85) moved into 1st-3rd and can't finish lower than 2nd-4th. If Germany wins on Sunday, FLYING ELVI will win the pool but if Brazil wins, FLYING ELVI goes home empty-handed.

This is the first time in 10 official HWCI pools (8 NCAA, 2 FIFA World Cup) that the pool champion will be decided on the final game of the tournament which is exciting. BERNISAM UNITED FC, which had 124 of 128 possibilities (97%) of winning money, is on the verge of not taking home anything if Germany wins. This will be the biggest fall ever in HWCI history. There was one time where a person in the NCAA pool (BIX PIX in '99) has just 4 of 128 (3%) possibilities of winning money and actually finished 4th, but never the reverse. Good luck to PUNA and FLYING ELVI and may the best predictor win.

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I'm sure Korea just wanted to stay in Korea...
Scott HW