Brazil launched their World Cup campaign with a 2-0 win over Serbia, with Richarlison scoring twice.
What happened?
Just after the hour mark, the Tottenham forward broke the deadlock with a close-range finish at the Lusail Iconic Stadium.
Richarlison then clinched the points with a magnificent acrobatic effort 17 minutes from time, giving Tite’s team a 1-0 lead in Group G.
The Selecao has not lost their first match at the championships since 1934, when they were defeated 3-1 by Spain in the first round.
Brazil, unbeaten in their previous 15 World Cup group games, dominated the first half but failed to create many scoring chances.
Casemiro tested Vanja Milinkovic-Savic from long range, but the Serbia goalkeeper was quick off his line to deny Vinicius Junior from latching onto Thiago Silva’s exquisite throughball.
In the 35th minute, the Selecao ripped open their opponents’ defense with a slick one-two between Raphinha and Lucas Paqueta, but the Barcelona forward could only shoot straight at Milinkovic-Savic.After the interval, Brazil posed a larger danger.
Serbia was saved by Milinkovic-Savic, who denied Raphinha, who had dispossessed Nemanja Gudelj outside his own penalty area, while Neymar blasted wide from close range.
Before the Samba Boys finally broke through in the 62nd minute, Alex Sandro hit the post from 30 yards out; Richarlison poking home the rebound after Milinkovic-Savic parried Vinicius’ original effort.
11 minutes later, Richarlison gave Brazil breathing room by controlling Vinicius’ low, hard cross with his left foot before swiveling and firing a fantastic acrobatic volley flying into the bottom corner with his right.
Tite’s team almost extended their lead when Casemiro struck the crossbar and Milinkovic-Savic saved Rodrygo, but the two-goal buffer was enough to propel them to the top of Group G.
