Richarlison’s double strike for Brazil

At a glance

With Neymar limping off the field with an ankle injury, Richarlison came through for the ‘‘Selecao’’.

A spectacular acrobatic kick followed an easy tap-in from close range as Richarlison scored both goals in Brazil’s 2-0 victory over Serbia yesterday at the World Cup in Qatar.

He had his back to the goal when he used one touch to get the ball up in the air near the penalty spot, then spun around and leapt off the ground before knocking the ball into the net with his right foot in the 73rd minute.

‘‘My childhood dream has come true,’’ said Richarlison, who is playing in his first World Cup.

‘‘We knew it was going to be difficult to get past them. I’m used to playing against defensive teams like this in England.

‘‘I wanted to take advantage of the opportunities that I had and I did.’’

Brazil had struggled to get past the Serbian defence until the

Brazil’s Richarlison

Tottenham forward scored from close range in the 62nd in a buildup that started with Neymar. Vinicius Junior assisted on both goals.

Neymar, seeking his first major title with Brazil, stayed at 75 goals for the national team, two shy of Pele’s scoring record.

He was tackled hard a few times and hurt his right ankle in the second half. He was limping at one point and ended up crying on the bench after being substituted in the 79th.

Brazil coach Tite started with an attack-minded squad that included four forwards – Neymar, Vinicius Junior, Raphinha and Richarlison. Attacking midfielder Lucas Paqueta played alongside Casemiro, the lone defensive midfielder.

But Serbia had several players back and were able to keep Brazil from creating many significant opportunities. Neymar tried to control the pace but struggled to get free. He, Vinicius Junior and Raphinha all squandered chances early on.

Brazil’s best chance before Richarlison’s opening goal had been a low long-range shot by Alex Sandro that hit the post in the 60th. Neymar had his best opportunities with a freekick in the 50th and a shot from near the penalty spot in the 55th.

The 30-year-old Neymar arrived to his third World Cup as Brazil’s main attraction.

He helped the ‘‘Selecao’’ win the 2013 Confederations Cup and their first Olympic gold medal at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Games, but has yet to win a major title with the national team.

Brazil, trying to win their first World Cup in two decades, are unbeaten in their last 20 opening games, with 17 victories. They have finished first in their group in the last 10 World Cups.

In the other Group G match, Switzerland defeated Cameroon 1-0.

In Doha, Ghana coach Otto Addo criticised the American referee who awarded the penalty that resulted in

‘‘My childhood dream has come true.’’

World Cup day 5:

Group G: Switzerland 1 Cameroon 0, Brazil 2 Serbia 0.

Group H: Uruguay 0 South Korea 0, Portugal 3 Ghana 2.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s record goal at the World Cup yesterday, calling it ‘‘a special gift’’.

Ronaldo converted the secondhalf penalty, making him the first male player to score in five World Cups. Portugal went on to beat Ghana 3-2.

‘‘If somebody scores a goal, congratulations. But this was really a gift. Really a gift,’’ Addo said. ‘‘What more can I say? [It was] a special gift from the referee.’’

Addo’s criticism of American referee Ismail Elfath was so direct that it could put him into trouble with Fifa.

When asked what he thought was the reason for Ghana’s narrow defeat, Addo responded: ‘‘The referee.’’

In the other group H match yesterday, Uruguay and South Korea drew 0-0.