Elbowing Of Ramos Decks U.S. -- Leonardo Gets Red Card, But U.S. Dealt Weak Hand

STANFORD, Calif. - If the soccer-playing children of this nation tuned in to yesterday's World Cup match, they would have found a single-name Brazilian to remind them of a certain Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtle.

In a move that was more karate than soccer, Leonardo flattened U.S. midfielder Tab Ramos with an elbow to the head that knocked Ramos out just before halftime.

Leonardo, who will probably draw at least a two-game suspension for his action, was ejected, forcing Brazil to go with 10 players the rest of the game. U.S. players insist the real damage was done to their team, however, because Ramos was about the only one able to make plays against Brazil.

"Tab was doing well," said Marcelo Balboa. "He's very elusive and he was creating chances."

Ramos is expected to be released today from a Stanford-area hospital, after suffering a small skull fracture.

Ramos, who plays professionally in Spain, is perhaps the most skilled U.S. ballhandler. Dribbling near the touchline, he frustrated Leonardo enough to make the Brazilian grab his jersey. Then as the ball went out of bounds, Leonardo swung around blindly with his right elbow.

U.S. players were loathe to call the foul intentional. But replays indicated that the elbow, coming at face level and delivered under some control, was at the least unnecessary.

Ramos was unavailable for comment, but apparently did not leave without some protest, receiving a yellow card as he was being carried off on a stretcher.

"What happened with Leonardo was just what happens in soccer," Bebeto said. "You get frustrated and you don't mean to hurt anybody. He swung his arm and just caught (Ramos) in the face, but there was no intention to hurt him."

Ramos delivered the only assist by a U.S. player in the tournament when he set up Ernie Stewart for the a goal in the 2-1 win over Colombia. Without him, the Americans did not raise their expectations.

The U.S. and Brazil were ranked No. 1 and No. 3 on the FIFA "Fair Play" contest after the first round, partly because of the lack of yellow and red cards. Five yellows by the U.S., two yellows by Brazil, plus a red card on both sides, hurt the chances of both teams for that distinction.