Coutinho, Neymar provide stoppage-time relief
ST PETERSBURG: Late strikes by Philippe Coutinho and Neymar gave Brazil their first win of the World Cup in thrilling fashion against Costa Rica in St. Petersburg on Friday and sent the Central Americans crashing out of the tournament.
The clock had ticked past 90 minutes, and the five-times champions looked to be edging to a second disappointing draw, when Marcelo floated the ball in from the left and substitute Roberto Firmino headed across to Gabriel Jesus.
Jesus’s first touch took the ball away from the defender and into the path of Coutinho who raced in to poke past goalkeeper Keylor Navas from six metres out for his second goal of the tournament.
The result leaves Brazil with four points from two games after they drew 1-1 with Switzerland in their opening match, and they provisionally rise above Serbia to top Group E. wasn’t until the 64th minute that Messi, who dragged Argentina to Russia and took them to being second-best in the world in Brazil, would have his first shot on goal. It was an attempt from close that was thwarted by his Barcelona teammate Rakitic. Croatia defender Dejan Lovren said they hadn’t made any specific plan for Messi. “We had a plan for Argentina, not for him,” he told reporters in the mixed zone.
“We respect Messi because he is the greatest player in the world but he is also stoppable. We did it together today, defending as a team.”
Neymar added the second with practically the last kick of the match, volleying home following a quick counter-attack as Costa Rica pushed for an equaliser.
With the game still scoreless 13 minutes from time, Neymar collapsed under a soft challenge in the box and thought he had won a penalty for his misfiring side.
Dutch referee Bjorn Kuipers pointed to the spot before heeding the protests of the Costa Rican players and consulting the video assistant referee (VAR). Replays showed there was minimal contact and Kuipers reversed his decision as Brazil’s frustration reached fever pitch.
Time and again they hurled themselves at the Costa Rican goal only to be repelled until their opponent’s resistance finally broke. Neymar, overcome by emotion on the whistle, covered his face with his hands as tears streamed down his cheeks.
That was an apt reflection of how tense the match had been, with Costa Rica’s flat-back five keeping Neymar on the periph-
Messi entered the pitch head bowed and was seen rubbing his forehead when the teams lined up for the national anthems. Even before the second half started, he looked like a man more world weary than one playing for the World Cup.
Argentina began shakily and couldn’t recover from goalie Willy Caballero’s attempt to play out from the back that led to Ante Rebic’s swinging right-foot shot that put Croatia in front.
Largely anonymous before that, Messi flickered only briefly after it. “The reality of the squad clouds Messi’s brilliance. Leo is ery, as Johan Venegas and Cristian Gamboa man-marked him out of the game.
“We had a plan, strategy, idea to control the opponent with and without ball,” Costa Rica coach Oscar Ramirez said.
Brazil had 71.7% of the possession, but for all their dominance found it hard to carve out clear chances. Marcelo’s tame shot straight at Navas just before halftime was the first effort on target from either side, while Celso Borges spurned the best chance of the half for Costa Rica when he ran on to Gamboa’s cut back but shot wide.
Brazil went into the break with the boos and whistles of their fans ringing in their ears but emerged with a renewed sense of purpose.
The finish was frantic as Brazil attacked with more desperation, until Coutinho rode to their rescue. “We deserved the win,” the Barcelona player said. “The ball came free and Gabriel shielded it well and I managed to score. The most important thing was winning.” limited because the team doesn’t gel,” Argentina coach Jorge Sampaoli said in his post-match press conference.
Diego Maradona had arrived at the stadium minutes before the start. As evening bled into night, you understood how desultory Argentina were just by looking at Maradona’s face.it wasn’t till Modric struck with a thunderous right-footer from long range that the Croatian section of fans could out-sing the Argentines. By the time Ivan Rakitic scored the third, Argentina’s 12th man had lost their voice. The humiliation was complete.