Brazil eliminates Mexico, into last-eight
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SAMARA, Russia (Reuters) – Neymar barged his way into the World Cup limelight with a goal, an assist and another helping of histrionics as Brazil roared into the quarterfinals with a 2-0 victory over Mexico on Monday.
The Paris Saint Germain forward was both architect and executioner for Brazil, who inflicted a seventh straight last-16 exit on the central Americans, sliding home in the second half and then teeing up Roberto Firmino late on.
Yet the less attractive side of his game was also on display, as he writhed on the floor, seemingly in agony, after Mexico’s Miguel Layun had made the slightest contact with his ankle, before making an immediate and miraculous recovery.
That should not overshadow his generally positive performance, however, as the five-time champions beat an otherwise stubborn Mexico, whose World Cup began with such promise with a victory over champion Germany, but ended in familiar fashion in the first knockout round.
It was the seventh World Cup running that Brazil has reached the last-eight, where it will now face Belgium, while Mexico has not made it to that stage since it hosted the tournament in 1986.
Mexico, which enjoyed an enviable recent record against Brazil having won seven of their previous 15 meetings, were a threat on the counter in the first half but then faded without ever really being put to the sword.
A glaring spotlight had been on Neymar after his opening three performances saw him miss a litany of chances, frequently squander possession and spend far too long on the turf.
Yet he answered a number of questions with his display and a decisive finish early in the second half from a move that he had started himself.
It began when he darted across the edge of the area before a perfect backheel released the excellent Willian, whose low cross fizzed into the danger area where Neymar slid in to turn the ball home for his second goal of the tournament.
It was a choking blow for Mexico, who had been the better side for the opening half an hour, but it was not the manner of defeat but Neymar’s habit of constantly hitting the deck that most irked the Mexico coach.
“Unfortunately, and it is a shame for football, we wasted a lot of time because of one player,” Juan Carlos Osorio said.
“It is a shame for all the people watching, all the children watching... There shouldn’t be acting. I think this had an impact on our pace and style.”
Brazil, which will have to do without defensive midfielder Casemiro in the quarters after he picked up his second booking, had to wait until the 88th minute to put the match to bed.
Neymar was the architect, crossing for Firmino, who is becoming something of a “supersub” for Brazil, to tap the ball home.
Brazil coach Tite was unsurprisingly supportive of Neymar, dismissing accusations of playacting, while preferring to talk about his improving side, which seems to be finding its rhythm after a third successive 2-0 victory.
“The team still has to grow,” he said. “I wanted to repeat the standard of the last match and grow and that happened.”
In the late game, Belgium fought back from two goals down to beat Japan 3-2 with an added-time goal from substitute Nacer Chadli to set up a quarterfinal match against Brazil.
The first side to recover from a two-goal deficit to win a World Cup knockout match since Germany beat England 3-2 after extra time in Mexico in 1970, Belgium was run ragged by a Japan side solid in defense and willing to probe deep.
As Belgium, 58 places above Japan at third in the FIFA world rankings, came out for the second half and soon found itself trailing to strikes from Genki Haraguchi and Takashi Inui.
But defender Jan Vertonghen made up for the error that cost the first Japanese goal, tucking away a looping header in the 69th minute and the towering Marouane Fellaini pulled Belgium level in the 74th, less than 10 minutes after coach Roberto Martinez threw him on in place of the frustrated Dries Mertens.
With Japan pressing for a winner, Belgium broke free in injury time and striker Romelu Lukaku dummied for the ball to run free to Chadli who slammed home the last-gasp winner.