Brazil coasted to a comfortable 3-0 victory over World Cup minnows Haiti at Lincoln Financial Field on Friday evening to breathe confidence into a campaign that had got off to a stuttering start with a 1-1 draw against Morocco.
Two first half goals from Matheus Cunha and a third from Vinicius Jr on the stroke of the interval lifted Carlo Ancelotti’s side to the top of Group C. They will play Scotland in their third game in Miami on Wednesday.
Cunha had been preferred to Brentford forward Igor Thiago and scored a fine second goal, hitting a fierce left foot shot high into the roof of the net.
Vini Jr converted a clever chipped pass from former West Ham star Lucas Paqueta.
The only negative for Brazil was that Raphinha was forced to leave the field with an injury in the first half.
Haiti were far from humiliated. Brazil goalkeeper Alisson made a series of stunning saves in the second half to frustrate the underdogs and deny them the goal that every neutral wanted them to score.
Matheus Cunha scored two and Vinicius Jr joined him on the scoresheet as Brazil beat Haiti
Cunha’s second was a thunderous finish as Brazil soon took control of the game in Philadelphia
Has Brazil found a potent front three?
It was a bad night for Igor Thiago. Brentford’s prolific centre forward started Brazil’s opening game against Morocco when Carlo Ancelotti’s side laboured to a 1-1 draw.
Thiago was dropped last night and his replacement, Matheus Cunha, galvanised Brazil’s front line.
The Manchester United forward was a perfect foil for Vinicius Jr and Raphinha, who went off injured in the first half.
It is not Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho but it is still a front line to command respect.
Does Brazil need a fit Neymar to have a chance of winning the World Cup?
Neymar, who is recovering from a calf injury and is hoping to return for the knock-out stages of the World Cup, was still not fit enough even to be named among the Brazil substitutes on Friday evening.
It was obviously a good night for the Brazil front line but even though they are stacked with attacking flair, they don’t have a fantasy player like Neymar was in his prime.
Neymar may never be that player again but only if Ancelotti can coax one final flourish from him can Brazil make it a sixth victory in World Cups.
Manchester United man Cunha got Brazil going by bundling the ball home from close range
Vinicius Junior got Brazil’s third before halftime – the goal was his second of the tournament
So how far can they go?
They have lost in the quarter-finals of the previous two World Cups and it feels as if that might be their level again here. It is possible that they will play England at that stage.
If that happens, probably for the first time in England’s history, they will not fear playing the five-times winners of the tournament.
Brazil racked up some goals in Philadelphia but their struggle against Morocco may have been a better indicator of where they are.
Are Haiti a good advert for a 48-team World Cup?
Even if you’re opposed to the bloated format of this World Cup, it is hard to argue that Haiti have not enriched it. Both in Boston, when they lost narrowly to Scotland, and here, where they fell to a heavier defeat, their fans added hugely to the spectacle and the spirit of the tournament.
Nor were their team humiliated. It took a quite brilliant save from Alisson to keep out a glancing header from Ricardo Ade midway through the half.
This is a team, don’t forget, that hasn’t played a match at home for almost five years because gang violence has stricken their country. Their participation is one of the things the tournament should be all about.
Raphinha was forced off in the first half with an apparent injury – a big concern for Brazil
What was the atmosphere like?
It was first class. It was an exuberant celebration of the game.
It has been impossible to fault the enthusiasm of the announcers in the stadiums but sometimes they have lacked a little in the feel for a big occasion.
‘It’s time to get this thing going,’ the announcer yelled just before the start on Friday evening. ‘Let’s get ready to rumble,’ it was not.
