News Focus
- Haiti exit the tournament after losing their second consecutive group match
- Matheus Cunha scores a first-half brace for the five-time world champions
- Vinícius Júnior provides two assists and scores one goal in a dominant display
- Raphinha leaves the pitch with a hamstring injury before the break
Haiti are out of the competition. They lost their opening match 1-0 to Scotland. This second defeat means they cannot reach the knockout phase.
Brazil completely controlled the first 45 minutes. Haiti defended badly. They played with a high defensive line. This gave Cunha, Raphinha and Vinícius space to run behind the defenders.
Raphinha thought he had opened the scoring after 12 minutes. He ran onto a pass from Bruno Guimarães and finished well. However, the assistant referee raised his flag for offside. Ten minutes later, the Barcelona forward missed another chance. He lifted his shot wide of the goal. The flag went up again.
Brazil took the lead one minute later. Vinícius cut inside from the left wing. His curling shot was saved by Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide. The ball fell to Cunha. The Manchester United striker scored easily.
Cunha scored his second goal after 36 minutes. Haiti lost possession in midfield. Vinícius passed to Cunha on the left side. The former Wolves forward smashed the ball into the roof of the net.
The five-time winners suffered a blow before halftime. Raphinha went off with what looked like a hamstring problem. Bournemouth teenager Rayan replaced him.
Vinícius turned from provider to scorer in stoppage time. Lucas Paquetá played a lofted pass over the defence. The Real Madrid forward ran onto it and slotted the ball past Placide.
Haiti managed their first shot after 48 minutes. Danilo gave the ball away cheaply. Sunderland striker Wilson Isidor shot tamely at Alisson. Jean-Kévin Duverne also missed wide for Haiti. At the other end, substitute Gabriel Martinelli hit the crossbar.
Douglas Santos, Endrick and Ederson all missed chances in the second half. Isidor forced a fine save from Alisson. Dominique Simon also tested the Liverpool goalkeeper in stoppage time. But Brazil could not add to their tally. Haiti become the first team eliminated from this year’s tournament.