Brazil moved to the top of Group C with a comfortable 3-0 win over Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium as Matheus Cunha scored twice and Vinicius Junior add
Brazil moved to the top of Group C with a comfortable 3-0 win over Haiti at Philadelphia Stadium as Matheus Cunha scored twice and Vinicius Junior added a third in a dominant first-half display.
Carlo Ancelotti made a bold pre-match decision, dropping Brentford striker Igor Thiago in favour of Cunha, and it paid off almost immediately.
With Haiti’s defence pushed unusually high up the pitch, Cunha was able to drop into pockets of space and link freely with Vinicius Junior and Raphinha.
The breakthrough came in the 23rd minute when Cunha forced home a rebound after goalkeeper Johnny Placide saved Vinicius Junior’s initial effort.
Brazil doubled their lead 13 minutes later in style. Vinicius Junior won the ball back in midfield before slipping a pass through to Cunha, who took a touch and rifled a stunning finish with his left foot into the top corner for his brace.
The five-time champions weren’t done before the break either — in first-half stoppage time, Lucas Paquetá picked out Vinicius Junior, who calmly controlled the ball and slid it under the onrushing Placide to make it 3-0, his second goal of the tournament.
The result confirmed Haiti’s elimination from the World Cup, ending their first appearance in the tournament since 1974 after only two matches. The Caribbean side had flashes of pace on the counter but rarely tested Brazil goalkeeper Alisson with any real threat.
The second half was far quieter, with Brazil largely content to manage the game rather than chase more goals. Substitute Gabriel Martinelli came closest to adding a fourth, only to see his effort cannon back off the crossbar.
Teenage forward Endrick, brought on for his World Cup debut, did find the net late on, but his celebrations were cut short when the assistant referee’s flag went up for offside. Haiti continued to push for a first goal of the tournament but could not find a way past a well-organised Brazilian backline.
There was a concerning moment for Ancelotti amid the win, as Raphinha was forced off with a hamstring issue, an injury that will be watched closely given how much Brazil have relied on their front three.
Statistically, the performance was something of an anomaly too: Brazil managed only eight shots in total, among the fewest by any team to score three goals in a World Cup match since 1966, with just two attempts coming after halftime.
Despite the quirks, the win lifted Brazil above Morocco to the top of Group C on goal difference, after the Atlas Lions’ 1-0 win over Scotland earlier in the day.
Brazil now turn their attention to a decisive finale against Scotland in Miami, while Haiti’s World Cup campaign comes to an end, though they will have to face in-form Morocco in their final game.
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