Brazil 2-0 Serbia: Richarlison steals the headlines as the Selecao ease past Serbia
The second game in Group G went as many people expected. A fantastic second half brace from Richarlison, punctuated by a goal of the tournament contender, saw Brazil to an easy three points.
From minute one to minute 90 there was no doubt about who the better team was – we stood witness to one of the best performances by any team in the tournament thus far.
A combination of Brazil’s high press and quality in possession made Serbia passengers throughout. There were a few opportunities in the first half but they turned it to another level in the second. The Seleção were completely dominant, conceding no shots on target and bossing the game.
The first sight of goal was Neymar from a corner 13 minutes in. He looked to score direct, but his curling effort was tipped over the bar by Vanja Milinković-Savić.
Milinković-Savić flew out to deny Vinícius Júnior a clear shot at goal after Thiago Silva’s exquisite through ball to split the Serbian sea of red in the 27th minute.
Brazil’s best chance of the first fell to Raphina 10 minutes before halftime. He played a lovely one-two with Lucas Paqueta which sent him one-on-one with Milinković-Savić, but the Serbian shot stopper was pleased that Raphina’s finish was poor and straight into his gloves.
Serbia mustered their first shot on goal in the 37th minute, but it was nothing but a half chance for Mladenovic who headed wide.
The biggest note for the rest of the opening 45 was a shocking ONE minute of time added on.
The second half started as the first ended, and Brazil were in again. An unforced error from Milinković-Savić left Raphina with a chance to open the scoring but the Serbian keeper made good on his mistake with a save.
Another Brazil chance went begging 55 minutes in when Neymar vollied wide from an inch-perfect Vinicius cross.
Half an hour from time and it was Alex Sandro’s turn to have a go. He arrowed a shot from 30 yards, and came agonisingly close as it cannoned back off the post.
Brazil finally had their breakthrough in the 61st minute. Neymar chinked and glided past defenders which led to a Vinicius shot on goal. Milinković-Savić made a smart save but could only parry it into the path of Richarlison who slotted into an empty net.
It was nothing more than the Selecao deserved and their superiority continued.
It should’ve been two 67 minutes in but a Neymar-led counter attack resulted in a slip and miss-hit from Vinicius as his shot sailed wide.
In the 74th minute, the fans got what they paid for. Richarlison, off what was a sumptuous cross from Vinicius, controlled deftly before contorting his body to slam an acrobatic volley into the corner. Beautiful in every sense of the word, and it illustrated the gulf in class.
The woodwork was struck once more, this time by Casemiro 82 minutes in. He opened his body up and curled a beauty towards the top corner. Inches away from another worldie.
A minute later it was Fred’s turn as his effort from just outside the box was turned wide by Milinković-Savić.
The remainder of the game seemed like an attack vs defence drill with the Brazilians going forward time and time again looking for the third, but to no avail.
Brazil, in the end, showed why they are favoured by so many. They easily brushed aside a Serbia team that was one of the best in Europe through World Cup Qualifying.
The Selecao will take some stopping.
