Last-16 flairs up as inspired Brazil put South Koreans to the sword
BRAZIL
Vinícius Jr 7; Neymar 13pen; Richarlison 29; Paquetá 36
SOUTH KOREA
Paik Seung-ho 76
4 1
Brazil’s players displayed a banner in support of Pele on the pitch as they celebrated their victory over South Korea in the last 16 of the World Cup.
The squad unfurled the banner, which featured just one word – ‘Pele!’ – alongside a picture of the Brazil great, in the wake of their 4-1 triumph.
Pelehadearliertweetedamessagetohiscompatriotsfromthe hospital in Sao Paulo where he was admitted last week.
Thereweregraveconcernsfor the 82-year-old when reports in Brazil claimed he had been moved to palliative care, but an update from doctors about his treatment for colon cancer was followed by a message on Pele’s Instagram page that he was “strong”.
Ahead of last night’s last16 tie at Stadium 974, Pele recalled memories of his World Cup debut in 1958, when the 17-year-old helped Brazil lift the Jules Rimet Trophy in Sweden. He wrote on Twitter: “In 1958, I walked the streets thinking about fulfilling the promise I made to my father. I know that today many have made similar promises and are also going in search of their first World Cup.
“I’ll be watching the game from hospital and I’ll be rooting for each one of you. Good luck!”
Asifinspired,brazilturnedon the style with a first-half blitz to sink the South Koreans and cruise into a World Cup quarter-final against Croatia.
Viniciusjunior,neymar,richarlison and Lucas Paqueta all found the net as the five-time champions exploited yawning gaps in their opponents’ defence to run riot.
As the favourites eased down after the break South Korea showed plenty of intent in attack and grabbed a deserved consolation goal in the 76th minute when Seung-ho Paik let fly from the edge of the box.
A scintillating first-half performance that will live long in the memory was kicked off in the seventh minute by the brilliant Vinicius who threaded a delicious effort through a swarmofsouthkoreandefenders to grab the opener.
Neymar, back after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury, swept home a cheeky penalty in the 12th minuteafterricharlisonwasrather harshly adjudged to have been fouled in the box. His goal took Neymartowithinoneofmatching Pele’s all-time record for their country.
Despitetheirineptitudeatthe back,thesouthkoreanslooked sharpwhentheywentforward, and Hwang Hee-chan almost reducedthedeficitwhenhehita brilliantshotfrom25yardsthat Alissonbeckersuperblytipped over the bar.
Richarlison rounded off a brilliant team move in the 29th minute when he placed Brazil’s third past Kim Seung-gyu after anaudacious,defence-splitting pass from centre-back Thiago Silva. Brazil continued to surge forward and Paqueta made it four in the 36th minute with a superb side-foot volley after meeting Vinicius’ delicate lob into the box.
To their credit, Paulo Bento’s side rallied after the break with Liverpool goalie Alisson havingtodenysonheung-minand Hwang Hee-chan before Paik’s fine strike reduced the deficit as Brazil wound down.