Philadelphia, June 21: Vinícius Júnior showed why he’s the most valuable player for five-time World Cup champion Brazil, scoring one goal and helping to create two others in a 3-0 victory over Haiti on Friday night.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old left winger scored at the end of the first half on a breakaway, casually flicking the ball past Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide. He also assisted on one goal by Matheus Cunha and set up a rebound that led to another.
Vinícius’ breakout performance brought Brazil back in the wake of a 1-1 draw against Morocco last week that left coach Carlo Ancelotti apologizing to fans. After applying steady pressure against Haiti in the opening minutes, Brazil broke through with an offensive torrent.
“I’m at my best level — physically, technically and mentally,” Vinícius said. “That’s important. I always dreamed of reaching the most important competition in the world at my 100 percent.”
“I’m here to continue evolving and take Brazil to the top,” he added.
Vinícius took a bending shot that rebounded off Placide’s gloves and set up Cunha for the put-away that made it 1-0. Thirteen minutes later, he set Cunha up with a long feed that Cunha drove into the net.
In the third minute of injury time, it was Vinícius who corralled a long pass and easily won the 1-on-1 matchup with the diving goalkeeper. He nearly had another assist halfway through the second half with a one-touch pass to an open Gabriel Martinelli, who launched the ball off the post.
“Everyone was feeling lighter today and the field was also in a better condition, so we were able to do our soccer,” Vinícius said.
Vinícius partly credited his breakthrough to Ancelotti’s decision to move him between the forwards, a different position than he’s used to. “I don’t play much there, but whenever the coach asks me to play there, I score, so I have to listen to him more,” he said.
Before the game, the player nicknamed “Viní” had said he thought he had more to show in the tournament — even after scoring the goal that brought Brazil even with Morocco.He now believes Brazil is hitting its stride.
“This was a very important game for us,” he said. “We were able to do our game. It gave us tranquility and superiority inside the field, where we were able to do many plays and score the goals.”
Coming off scoring 16 goals in 36 games with Real Madrid, he made an effort to help the defense on several occasions against Haiti and created numerous scoring chances.
Brazil and Morocco are tied atop Group C with four points, followed by Scotland with three.
The Brazilians are ranked sixth in the world; Haiti is 85th and became the first team eliminated from the tournament.
Saibari’s early goal lifts Morocco
It took Ismael Saibari only 21 minutes to score a goal for Morocco in his World Cup debut.
Barely a minute was enough time for him to get on the scoreboard in his second outing.
Saibari drilled a shot into the top corner of the net a mere 72 seconds into Friday’s 1-0 win over Scotland at Gillette Stadium, keeping alive Morocco’s chances of advancing to its second straight World Cup knockout round.
“We wanted three points and we got them,” Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi said.
Morocco’s ball movement caught Scotland on its heels at the very start.
Saibari slipped behind two Scotland defenders and Brahim Diaz dropped the ball over the top to him. The 25-year-old forward gathered and blasted it into the top left corner, well outside the reach of goalkeeper Angus Gunn.
Morocco, which reached the semifinals at the last World Cup in Qatar, drew 1-1 with Brazil in its Group C opener with Saibari scoring the lone goal. Scotland, which hasn’t gotten out of the group stage in its eight previous World Cup appearances, beat Haiti 1-0 in its first match.
Scotland was outshot 12-6 on Friday, struggling to get clear looks against Morocco’s defense.
The negative result didn’t affect Scotland coach Steve Clarke’s confidence in his team.
“We gave them a game,” Clarke said. “We’re sure we can compete at this level.”
Morocco nearly scored another in the 52nd minute when a header by Bilal El Khannouss off Achraf Hakimi’s corner kick was battled down by Gunn.
Scotland had a chance in first-half stoppage time when Andy Robertson sent a cross at John McGinn, who couldn’t get a foot on it near the back post.
As Scotland pressed for an equalizing goal in the closing minutes, Morocco had a pair of good chances to add to their lead, but both missed the target.
“I thought the performance didn’t match the result, if I’m honest,” Scotland midfielder Lewis Ferguson said. “We took the game to them. So there are positives from both games that certainly we can take into this last game.”
Scotland will face Brazil in its final Group C match on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida. Morocco will take on Haiti at the same time in Atlanta.(AP)
The Rising Nepal
