Brazil’s Neymar celebrates after scoring his facet’s second aim throughout the World Cup spherical of 16 soccer match between Brazil and South Korea, on the Training Metropolis Stadium in Al Rayyan, Qatar, Monday, Dec. 5, 2022. (AP Photograph/Manu Fernandez)
Doha: Neymar returned from harm to assist encourage Brazil to a 4-1 victory over South Korea on Monday because the favourites cruised via to the quarter-finals of the World Cup.
The world’s most costly participant had sat out his workforce’s final two matches with a sprained ankle suffered of their first recreation in Qatar, a 2-0 win over Serbia.
However he got here again for this last-16 tie as Tite’s workforce clicked into gear and delivered an ominous message to their rivals, a minimum of earlier than easing off within the second half.
Vinicius Junior opened the scoring inside seven minutes earlier than Neymar added one other from the penalty spot to maneuver to 76 targets for his nation, leaving him only one away from equalling Pele’s all-time report tally.
Richarlison’s good aim made it 3-0 and Lucas Paqueta added one other earlier than half-time to go away South Korea shellshocked.
Paik Seung-ho pulled one again however by then Brazil had been fascinated by Friday’s quarter-final conflict with 2018 runners-up Croatia.
The five-time World Cup winners had not scored 4 targets in a knockout recreation on the event since 1998.
Right here they performed at occasions with the enjoyment related to the Brazilian nationwide workforce, the gamers coming collectively to rejoice every aim by exhibiting off their dance strikes and their coach even becoming a member of in.
In the event that they completed taking part in inside themselves, their first-half show was excellent and a becoming tribute to the nice Pele.
The Brazilian legend had mentioned he would watch the sport from the Sao Paulo hospital to the place he was admitted final week amid ongoing remedy for colon most cancers, and supporters in Doha’s Stadium 974 unfurled a banner with a get properly quickly message to him.
All of it was a chastening expertise for Son Heung-min and South Korea, who’ve nonetheless by no means received a World Cup knockout match outdoors their very own nation.
Tite made 10 modifications to the Brazil workforce after rotating his squad for the 1-0 loss to Cameroon which got here after qualification for the final 16 had been secured.
Danilo additionally returned from harm at left-back, whereas Eder Militao was the one participant to maintain his place and shifted throughout to right-back.
Richarlison stars once more
With Alisson Becker again in aim and Thiago Silva and Marquinhos taking part in too, this was Brazil’s first-choice defence however their forwards shortly put the tie to mattress.
The opener got here from their first shot on the right track within the seventh minute as Raphinha burst away from Kim Jin-su on the suitable and his ball throughout aim got here to the ft of Vinicius who coolly picked his spot.
They then received a penalty as Richarlison was caught by Jung Woo-young and Neymar duly beat Kim Seung-gyu — his final six targets for Brazil have now all come from the spot.
Alisson was then known as into motion to tip over a vicious long-range effort from Hwang Hee-chan, however Brazil then scored their third in type simply earlier than the half-hour mark.
Richarlison juggled the ball on his head 3 times simply outdoors the realm earlier than laying it off to Marquinhos after which persevering with into the field to get on the top of Silva’s go which he slotted house for his third aim at this World Cup.
Paqueta then bought their fourth 9 minutes earlier than the break with a first-time end as he linked with a Vinicius ball held up from the byline.
They might have added extra within the second half had they not taken their foot off the pedal, though Raphinha was denied on multiple event by the goalkeeper.
Korea although deserve credit score for conserving going they usually had been rewarded inside the ultimate quarter-hour as substitute Paik introduced down a headed clearance and despatched in a ferocious shot from 25 metres that disregarded Silva to beat Alisson.
The Brazil goalkeeper was then taken off for the ultimate 10 minutes to get replaced by Weverton, whereas Neymar was additionally withdrawn with Tite’s thoughts on Croatia.
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