Brazil 2-0 Mexico: Talisman Neymar propels Selecao to World Cup quarter-final
- Mexico start brightly, but offer little in second half
- World’s most expensive player nets opening goal
- Roberto Firmino confirms victory with two minutes remaining
Neymar finally arrived at the 2018 World Cup and inspired Brazil’s victory over Mexico as they progressed to the quarter-finals on Monday.
The PSG man tapped in his country's opening goal and set up a late second to secure the win, while Juan Carlos Osorio's side put up little resistance.
However, it was Mexico who started the brighter of the two teams. El Tri’s wingers Hirving Lozano and Carlos Vela gave Brazil’s full-backs plenty of trouble within the first 20 minutes, but ultimately couldn’t force a breakthrough.
In the latter stages of the first half, La Selecao began to take over. Gabriel Jesus and Neymar both fired shots from wide left angles, both of which were parried away by goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
At the start of the second period, Brazil picked up where they left off. This time it was Philippe Coutinho who tested Ochoa, the Mexican stopper again forced to push a shot away from danger.
It was all a sign of things to come.
With 51 minutes played, Neymar drove towards the box with the ball at his feet and backheeled a layoff to Willian. The South American talisman continued his run and was there to pick up the Chelsea man’s low cross from the left, tapping home from inside the six-yard area.
In the ten minutes that followed, Paulinho and Willian both nearly put Brazil two up, but Guillermo Ochoa came to his country’s rescue twice more.
With 20 minutes remaining, Miguel Layun escaped a VAR check for what appeared to be a stamp on Neymar.
This was about as much fight as Mexico showed in the second half, succumbing to defeat without much resistance whatsoever.
Roberto Firmino then added a late second for Brazil with just two minutes remaining.
The Liverpool man tapped in after being handed the goal on a plate by Neymar, who was without doubt the game's star man.
STAR MAN - Neymar
After three meek performances for his country in Group E, Neymar finally showed up at the 2018 World Cup today. During a tight game with Brazil struggling to find the breakthrough, he engineered a fantastic move in which he cut through Mexico’s defence and gave La Selecao the lead.
MOMENT OF THE MATCH
The moment of the match has to be the opening goal. Brazil were struggling to make their pressure tell, but this move went off like clockwork. Neymar carried the ball towards goal at speed before stopping it in its tracks by backheeling to Willian. The Chelsea winger picked up where his counterpart left off, driving forward in a perpendicular direction across the penalty area. Neymar continued his run and was there to meet Willian’s drilled low cross, tapping in an absolutely superb team move.
LINE-UPS
Brazil XI: Alisson, Fagner, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Filipe Luis, Paulinho, Casemiro, Willian, Coutinho, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus.
Mexico XI: Ochoa, Alvarez, Ayala, Salcedo, Gallardo, Herrera, Marquez, Guardado, Vela, Hernandez, Lozano.
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