Brazil are back on track and continue their journey to Qatar 2022 as Neymar and Raphinha beat each other in a 4-1 win over Uruguay in the World Cup on Thursday.
Selecao, whose full qualifying record ended in a 0-0 draw on Sunday in Colombia, rushed to take the lead with two goals in less than 18 minutes against a struggling Uruguayan team in the Neymar and Raphinha strikes, making it his first international start.
Raphinha doubled his account in the 58th minute when Brazil held La Celeste, with Uruguayan goalkeeper Fernando Muslera blocking points that were not bad for Manaus.
Luis Suarez’s 77th-minute kick meant Brazil, who had gone six qualifying games without a goal and nine World Cup qualifiers, had dropped twice in their last three games before Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa finished with four minutes to go.
Neymar netted in the 10th minute, putting down Fred’s high ball in the box, the leading striker around Muslera, and kicking home from a sharp gap past Sebastian Coates in the line. Raphinha doubled Brazil’s advantage, shooting after Neymar’s shotgun pulled George Godin and Muslera off his path to become the first Leeds United player to hit the South American giants.
Brazil had to get a third in the 34th minute when Neymar and Raphinha both took too many touches inside the box, failing to shoot.
Muslera kept Uruguay in the game after a break, denying Manchester City striker Gabriel Jesus twice in quick succession, along with Raphinha. Edinson Cavani, who started next to Uruguay’s leading scorer Suarez, had a goal blocked in the 56th minute before Brazil added a third.
Raphinha took a second, ending a quick attack with a shot that was sent during Neymar’s dismissal in about an hour. Muslera successfully saved Barbosa twice, before Suarez hit a free kick in the bottom corner to score a consolation goal – his 65-nation strike.
Barbosa scored his goal after consulting with VAR, breaking through Neymar’s cross to make it two goals in his last three international matches.
