Lusail, Qatar: Brazil outclassed Serbia 2-0 of their World Cup opener on Thursday as Richarlison’s second-half objectives, together with a spectacular overhead kick, propelled the five-times champions to the highest of Group G.
The Tottenham Hotspur ahead has been in high-quality kind when carrying the golden yellow package of Brazil this yr and he opened the scoring with a straightforward tap-in earlier than doubling the lead together with his acrobatic effort.
It was his ninth purpose for Brazil in seven video games in 2022 as Brazil leapfrogged Switzerland, who’re second within the group after they beat Cameroon 1-0. Serbia are backside.
Tite’s choice to go along with 4 forwards – Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha and Richarlison – in his attacking lineup paid off handsomely because the South Individuals dominated the match and made Serbia work exhausting each time they went ahead.
Brazil’s Richarlison controls the ball throughout Group G soccer match between Brazil and Serbia. AFP/Nelson Almeida
Vinicius used his aptitude and acceleration to good impact to continuously beat his man whereas Neymar, taking part in in a free position, typically discovered pockets of house, however a well-drilled Serbian defence stored Brazil at bay within the first half.
Brazil’s greatest probability of the half, nonetheless, got here when Neymar tried to catch goalkeeper Milinkovic-Savic off guard from a nook, whipping in an inswinger that was heading in the right direction earlier than the Torino participant punched it clear.
Serbia had been sweating over the health of their all-time high scorer Aleksandar Mitrovic however coach Dragan Stojkovic named him within the beginning lineup.
Brazil’s Neymar and Serbia’s Andrija Zivkovic combat for the ball through the Group G match between Brazil and Serbia. AFP/Giuseppe Cacace
Mitrovic remoted
Not like Brazil’s ahead line, nonetheless, which threatened from all sides, the Fulham striker discovered himself remoted up entrance with little service as skipper and playmaker Dusan Tadic struggled to affect proceedings.
The second half was one-way visitors as Brazil shifted by means of the gears, Richarlison and Neymar losing gilt-edged possibilities contained in the field and Alex Sandro and Casemiro sending long-range efforts in opposition to the woodwork.
The breakthrough got here simply after the hour from good work by Neymar to search out Vinicius, whose preliminary shot was saved by Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, however Richarlison was in the appropriate place to faucet within the rebound for his first World Cup purpose.
Serbia had been taking part in conservatively as much as that time and had no selection however to pour ahead, which gave Brazil more room and the second purpose from Richarlison introduced the largest roar of the evening from the Brazilian contingent.
As Richarlison tried to manage a cross from Vinicius, the ball popped up over his head and he leapt up within the air to volley residence a bicycle kick and seal the win for Brazil.
An virtually good evening for Brazil was, nonetheless, soured when Neymar got here off within the eightieth minute with what appeared like an ankle damage after a crunching sort out from Nikola Milenkovic.
It was the identical proper foot Neymar has had issues with earlier than and the Paris St Germain ahead sat on the bench together with his face lined whereas he obtained remedy as Brazil noticed out the match.