A second-half brace by Richarlison, together with a shocking overhead scissor kick, gave match favourites Brazil a 2-0 win over Serbia of their opening World Cup sport on the Lusail Stadium on Thursday. The document five-time winners had toiled at occasions within the first half however improved after the break and had been rewarded when Tottenham Hotspur striker Richarlison adopted in to attain the opener within the 62nd minute when a Vinicius Junior shot was saved. Vinicius then arrange Richarlison to attain once more within the 73rd minute with a shocking acrobatic effort that’s certainly the objective of the World Cup up to now.

The outcome continues Brazil’s very good document within the World Cup group stage, wherein their final defeat got here in 1998 towards Norway, after they had already secured a spot within the subsequent spherical.

Tite’s aspect at the moment are already on high of Group G forward of Switzerland, who beat Cameroon 1-0 earlier and who’re Brazil’s subsequent opponents.

The scoreline right here was the identical as when these sides met within the group stage in 2018 however Brazil are decided to do much better than 4 years in the past, after they misplaced to Belgium within the quarter-finals.

They have come to Qatar because the favourites for a sixth title, 20 years after their final victory.

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Other leads to the opening spherical of matches in Qatar served as a warning, with their nice rivals Argentina struggling a shock defeat to Saudi Arabia on the similar stadium and Germany being shocked by Japan.

However, Brazil would have recognized to not take Serbia calmly, provided that the aspect who lie twenty first within the FIFA rankings are one in all Europe’s most improved groups and topped their qualifying group above Portugal.

Yet it nonetheless would have been an enormous shock for Brazil to lose at a floor the place they intend to return for the ultimate on December 18.

Tite despatched out a really attack-minded aspect, with Neymar in assist of Richarlison whereas Raphinha and Vinicius occupied the wings and Lucas Paqueta added creativity in central midfield.

Neymar, the world’s costliest participant, kicked off needing simply two targets to equal Pele‘s all-time document tally of 77 for Brazil, however he must wait just a little longer to get them.

Serbia did their greatest to frustrate the Paris Saint-Germain celebrity, who come near scoring direct from an early nook that may have raised the roof on the magnificent Lusail Stadium, the place the stands had been stuffed with yellow and inexperienced.

Acrobatic

The greatest Brazilian moments within the first half got here when Thiago Silva‘s defence-splitting cross discovered Vinicius within the field, just for goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic to thwart the Real Madrid man, and when Raphinha performed a one-two with Paqueta earlier than his shot was saved.

Barcelona winger Raphinha was concerned once more inside a minute of the restart when he hounded Nemanja Gudelj out of possession however was once more denied by the goalkeeper.

However, Serbia’s resistance was damaged simply after the hour mark.

The warning had come when Alex Sandro lashed a left-foot shot off an upright and two minutes later the objective arrived.

Neymar arrange Vinicius for a shot that Milinkovic-Savic received a hand to, however the ball broke to Richarlison who adopted in to attain.

Serbia responded by bringing on Dusan Vlahovic, the thrilling Juventus striker who had been battling harm.

Yet Brazil had now discovered their stride and the second objective when it got here was worthy of the most important stage.

A Vinicius cross with the skin of his proper boot was managed by Richarlison who then spun round and leapt to attain with an outrageous acrobatic effort.

Brazil might have scored extra, with Casemiro seeing a shot come again off the crossbar, however this was a really promising begin.

(This story has not been edited by NDTV employees and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

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