Brazil, Portugal power through
Brazil struggled without Neymar at the World Cup yesterday. Still, the five-time champions played well enough to secure a spot in the next stage.
Brazil overcame the absence of their injured star to beat Switzerland 1-0 and make it to the round of 16 with a match to spare in Group G.
Casemiro scored in the 83rd minute to break the deadlock in a game in which Brazil had difficulties creating scoring chances without their main playmaker.
“We knew that it wasn’t going to be easy. We had to be patient,” Casemiro said. “Out first objective was to advance and we achieved that.”
Neymar stayed at the team’s hotel treating a right ankle injury sustained in the opener in Qatar. Team doctors have not yet given a timetable on his return — or said if he will return at all.
“We know that Neymar is a great player and that he makes a difference,” Brazil defender Marquinhos said. “In difficult moments he takes on the responsibility and creates the opportunities, but we showed once again that we have quality players to make up for his absence.”
The win gave Brazil six points from two matches, leaving Switzerland with three. Serbia and Cameroon, who drew 3-3 earlier, have point each.
The result extended Brazil’s unbeaten run in the group stage to 17 matches, with 14 wins and three draws. They have lost only one of their last 29 group games, with the last defeat coming against Norway in 1998 in France.
Switzerland had lost only two of their last 13 group matches at the World Cup.
It was an even match early on, with both teams trying to control the game but not creating many significant chances. Without Neymar, Brazil struggled to get near Switzerland’s area until Casemiro scored with a nice one-timer into the far corner, using the outside of his right foot in a shot that deflected slightly off defender Manuel Akanji.
● Cristiano Ronaldo wheeled away in celebration, acting as though he had scored yet another goal at the World Cup.
Not this time.
Instead, it was Bruno Fernandes eventually credited with the goal that set up Portugal’s 2-0 win over Uruguay, advancing the team into the last 16.
Fernandes curled in a cross from the left that barely went over the head of the leaping Ronaldo and bounced into the far corner of the net in the 54th minute to give Portugal a 1-0 lead.
A grinning Ronaldo threw his arms
in the air, suggesting he got the final touch, and was embracing Fernandes as multiple close-up replays were being shown on the big screens in Lusail Stadium.
The goal wound up being awarded to Fernandes, who added a second from the penalty spot in stoppage time after a handball by Jose Maria Gimenez.
Fernandes was denied a hat-trick with virtually the last kick of the game, his shot from outside the area hitting the post and bouncing wide.
Portugal, who opened with a 3-2 win over Ghana, became the third
team to reach the last 16 after France and Brazil.
Uruguay have one point from two matches and need to beat Ghana on Saturday to stand a chance of advancing.
● Cameroon staged an impressive comeback in a 3-3 draw against Serbia at the World Cup despite replacing their goalkeeper at the last minute.
Andre Onana, who plays for Italian club Inter Milan, wasn’t in Cameroon’s lineup or even at the stadium to watch the Group G match.
Coach Rigobert Song said he dropped his starting goalkeeper for “disciplinary reasons,” but didn’t give any specifics.
“In a group you need to respect the rules that apply to everybody, and I prefer to ensure that the team takes precedence over individuals,” Song said. “If you can’t fit in with what’s required to be part of a squad, then
I do think that you need to step up to the plate and accept responsibility for that.”
Song replaced Onana with Devis Epassy, who made only his sixth international appearance.
“I took a risk, I realise that,” Song said. “Maybe we’re going to have to explain what happened later.”
Song said Onana hasn’t been kicked out of the squad and didn’t rule him out of Cameroon’s last group stage match against Brazil on Saturday.
“For the time being I’ve asked him to wait and we’ll see if he’s going to stay with us,” Song said. “It’s up to him as well to a certain extent. He’s going to have to agree to respect the rules to perhaps come into the squad.”
Onana, who has 34 international caps made no comment on the decision except posting the starting lineup, with his notable absence, on Instagram.
Cameroon were down 3-1 but second-half substitute Vincent Aboubakar turned the game with a goal and an assist.
He lobbed Serbia goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-savic in the 64th minute to score his 34th goal for the Indomitable Lions, and set up striker Eric Maxim Choupo-moting two minutes later for the equaliser.
Both sides had lost their opening games, with Serbia beaten 2-0 by Brazil and Cameroon losing 1-0 to Switzerland.
● Mohammed Kudus said there wasn’t much difference between the way Ghana played in their opening World Cup match against Portugal or their second game against South Korea.
Except the result, of course.
Kudus scored twice, including the go-ahead goal after the South
Koreans evened the match in the second half, and Ghana staved off elimination with a 3-2 victory yesterday.
Mohammed Salisu also scored for the Black Stars, who were disappointed after a close 3-2 opening loss to Cristiano Ronaldo and
Portugal and were in need of points against South Korea for a chance to reach the knockout round in Qatar.
Down 2-0, Cho Gue-sung scored both of South Korea’s goals about three minutes apart early in the second half to even the game at 2-2.
But Kudus’ low left-footed goal in the 68th minute sailed out of the reach of goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu to give the Black Stars back the lead. Ghana goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-zigi preserved the victory with a leaping save in stoppage time. —AP