Richarlison scores Brazil’s second goal – spectacularly. (Yukihito Taguchi-USA TODAY Sports)
Like it or not, Brazil enters every World Cup as one of the favorites.
Given the South Americans’ history in the beautiful game, you can understand why.
They have won five world championships while many times displaying an entertaining style.
Heck, Brazilian fans even had replica World Cup trophies in the stands.
After a frustrating first half in which Brazil outplayed and outshot Serbia, but not netting a goal, the team’s most fervent supporters might have been worried more than just a bit.
Richarlison, however, put those concerns to rest, striking twice, the forward’s second one a spectacular acrobatic goal, to lift the Brazilians to a 2-0 victory at Lusail Iconic Stadium in Qatar in the final group stage match on Thursday.
Brazil, which is unbeaten in its last 20 World Cup openers, outplayed the Europeans in the first half, but didn’t find the net.
Serbia held its own defensively, holding off the Brazilians with blocked shots and saves or the luck of the ball hitting the woodwork.
The South Americans finally solved their foes in the 62nd minute.
Neymar, used as a pin cushion by Serbia for most of the match, started the sequence by sending a short pass to Junior, whose shot was palmed away by goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic with a diving save. Richarlison, however, standing alone in front of the net, buried the ball home before Milinkovic-Savic could regain his balance.
Then came the goal of the World Cup – at least until now, when Richarlison scored off a spectacular scissors kick off Junior’s feed in the penalty area for an insurance goal in the 73rd minute.
Richarlison, 25, who plays for Tottenham, has scored 19 goals in 39 appearances for Brazil.
