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Dunga worried by Kaka`s yellow peril

Sports Desk |
Update: 2010-06-28 15:09:50

JOHANNESBURG: Coach Dunga admitted Kaka`s flurry of yellow cards was giving him concern as five-time world champions Brazil charged into the quarter-finals at the World Cup at Ellis Park on Monday.


The former world player of the year picked up his third booking of the tournament as Brazil eliminated Chile 3-0 in the last 16.


The Selecao eased into the last eight with well-taken goals from Juan, Luis Fabiano and Robinho and they will now face the Netherlands at Port Elizabeth on Friday.


Kaka, in his first outing back from a one-match suspension for his red card against Ivory Coast, again went into the referee`s book and laid on the final pass for Luis Fabiano`s goal before he was brought off with nine minutes left.


Kaka fell foul of English referee Howard Webb after hacking down Arturo Vidal in the 30th minute, putting him under the threat of another expulsion for his remaining time on the pitch.


Coach Dunga admitted Kaka`s run of yellow cards at the World Cup was troubling.
"Yes, it is a problem, I don`t want Kaka to be left suspended, the technical players are punished and those who commit fouls aren`t," Dunga said.


"This started in the group stage, we are going to talk to Kaka about this, we don`t want to get bogged down on the issue of yellow cards."


The Brazilians were upset that Kaka was sent off in his last match for what they deemed a light push on the Ivorians` Abdelkader Keita, who collapsed theatrically to the ground.


Playmaker Kaka has been slowly finding his form at the World Cup after he was dogged by a thigh injury in his first season since joining Real Madrid from AC Milan last summer.


"If we look at Kaka, he didn`t play a 90-minute game in the last five months, we have built him up slowly, everything has been planned," Dunga said.


The 2007 World Player of the Year showed glimpses of his best with two crucial moments against Ivory Coast.


The Real Madrid star was largely a peripheral figure against Chile before he provided the final pass for striker Luis Fabiano`s goal in the 38th minute.


Kaka linked well with Robinho who made the run down the left and quickly released the Seville forward, who nipped past goalkeeper Claudio Bravo and side-footed into an empty net.


Brazil snapped into gear after a labouring first half-hour when Roma defender Juan leapt above the defence to powerfully head home Maicon`s corner on 34 minutes.


The Brazilians made it safe when Robinho beat Bravo for a third time with a sweet finish on 59 minutes after Ramires had swooped on a loose Chilean pass and sprinted from halfway to present Robinho with his scoring chance.


Dunga put his three star attackers, Luis Fabiano, Kaka and official man-of-the-match Robinho, in cotton wool ahead of their big quarter-final with the Dutch, bringing them all off in the final 15 minutes.


BDST: 1137hrs, June 29, 2010
CG

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