Neymar clicks into gear to lift Brazil
• Star striker scores, sets up a second and produces a dose of melodramatics to oust Mexico
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.
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.
It was a seventh straight last-16 exit for the Mexicans.
The PSG forward was both architect and executioner for Brazil, sliding home in the second half and then teeing up Roberto Firmino late on, but he also writhed on the floor, seemingly in agony, after Mexico’s Miguel Layun had made slight contact with his ankle.
That should not overshadow his generally positive display as the five-times champions beat a stubborn Mexico, whose World Cup began with such promise with a victory over Germany, but ended in familiar fashion in the first knockout round.
It was the seventh World Cup in a row that Brazil have reached the last eight, while Mexico have not made it to that stage since hosting the tournament in 1986.
Mexico, who enjoyed an enviable recent record against Brazil having won seven of their previous 15 matches against them, were a threat on the counter in the first half, but then faded without really being put to the sword.
For all their quasi mythological attacking traditions, this Brazil side have a pragmatism that keeps them in check in such a way that you cannot see them cutting loose at this tournament.
Having kept clean sheets in seven of their previous eight games, they were never going to commit men forward and allow Mexico to pick them off on the counter in the same way Germany did in the group stage.
That is not to say that they were not under the cosh in the early stages as Mexico sought to isolate the Brazilian fullbacks Fagner and Filipe Luis, who both looked vulnerable as Carlos Vela and Hirving Lozano bore down on them. Lozano had an effort blocked after two minutes as did Hector Herrera, but as the first half wore on Brazil got on top in the stifling Samara heat.
A glaring spotlight had been on Neymar after his opening three performances saw him miss a litany of chances.
Yet Neymar answered a number of questions with his performance and a decisive finish early in the second half from a move he had started himself.
Minutes after the restart Brazil took the lead in exquisite fashion with Neymar starting and ending the move.
He darted across the edge of the area before a perfect backheel released Willian, whose low cross fizzed into the danger area where Neymar slid in to turn the ball home.
But Brazil had to wait until the 88th minute to put the match to bed when Neymar was the architect, crossing for Firmino to tap the ball home.
Belgium fought back from two goals down to beat Japan 3-2 with an added-time goal from substitute Nacer Chadli on Monday to set up a World Cup quarter-final with Brazil.
Belgium is 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.
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