Brazil outclassed Serbia 2-0 of their World Cup opener on Thursday as Richarlison scored two second-half objectives, together with a spectacular overhead kick, although an ankle damage sustained by Neymar put a damper on their celebrations.
Richarlison has been in wonderful type when carrying the golden yellow package of Brazil this 12 months and he opened the scoring with a simple tap-in earlier than doubling the lead along with his acrobatic effort.
It was his ninth aim for Brazil in seven video games in 2022 as Brazil leapfrogged Switzerland, who beat Cameroon 1-0, to the highest of Group G. Serbia are backside.
“As our professor Tite says, ‘you might be smelling objectives’, and that’s what’s taking place,” Richarlison stated.
“It’s a beautiful night time, a wonderful victory and now we now have six video games to succeed in our aim.”
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Tite’s determination to go along with 4 forwards – Neymar, Vinicius Jr, Raphinha and Richarlison – in his attacking lineup paid off handsomely because the South People dominated the match and made Serbia work arduous each time they went ahead.
Vinicius used his aptitude and acceleration to good impact to persistently beat his man whereas Neymar, enjoying in a free function, usually discovered pockets of area, however a well-drilled Serbian defence stored Brazil at bay within the first half.
Brazil’s greatest likelihood of the half, nevertheless, got here when Neymar tried to catch goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic off guard from a nook, whipping in an inswinger that was on track earlier than the Torino participant punched it clear.
NEYMAR INJURED
An nearly good night time for Brazil was, nevertheless, soured when Neymar got here off within the eightieth minute with what regarded 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, the world’s costliest participant, sat on the bench along with his face lined whereas he acquired therapy as Brazil noticed out the match.
Brazil’s crew physician stated they would wish one or two days earlier than they may consider his swollen ankle however Tite stated he didn’t assume the 30-year-old would miss the remainder of the match.
“We’re assured that Neymar will proceed enjoying within the World Cup,” Tite advised reporters.
“I didn’t see Neymar was injured. The capability he has to beat it tricked even me,” he added when requested why Neymar was not withdrawn earlier.
MITROVIC ISOLATED
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.
In contrast to Brazil’s ahead line, nevertheless, 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 the gears, Richarlison and Neymar losing gilt-edged probabilities contained in the field and Alex Sandro and Casemiro sending long-range efforts towards the woodwork.
The breakthrough got here simply after the hour from sensible work by Neymar to seek out Vinicius, whose preliminary shot was saved by Milinkovic-Savic, however Richarlison was in the precise place to faucet within the rebound for his first World Cup aim.
Serbia had been enjoying conservatively as much as that time and had no alternative however to pour ahead, which gave Brazil more room and the second aim from Richarlison introduced the largest roar of the night time from the Brazilian contingent.
As Richarlison tried to regulate 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, who’re in search of a record-extending sixth World Cup crown.
“Within the second half we fell bodily and we had been now not enjoying like a crew. And everybody is aware of Brazil have wonderful gamers and so they punished us,” Stojkovic stated.
“I really feel sorry we didn’t have Mitrovic and (Filip) Kostic at 100%. They weren’t prepared.
“The depth was excessive within the second half and we gave Brazil an excessive amount of area. I don’t know why our gamers’ depth was down, it’s unusual.”
FIFA World Cup 2022: Richarlison activates type as silky Brazil see off Serbia
