World Cup Nights: Brazil soar with Vinicius and Neymar, South Africa make history
Six matches, three groups wrapped up. In Miami, Brazil brushed Scotland aside 3-0 with a Vinicius Junior brace and the World Cup return of Neymar; in Mexico City, El Tri finished with a perfect record (3-0 over Czechia) on the night of Memo Ochoa's sixth World Cup. South Africa beat South Korea 1-0 to reach the last 32 for the first time in their history, while Switzerland and Canada both went through and Morocco came from behind to beat Haiti. Tonight, Italian time, it is the turn of Groups E, F and D: Germany, the Netherlands, Japan and an already-qualified USA all in action.
At Miami's Hard Rock Stadium, Brazil gave Scotland no way back: 3-0. The Selecao broke through after just seven minutes through Vinicius Junior, who pounced on a dreadful McKenna backpass, and all but settled it in first-half stoppage time when Vinicius rose highest to head in the second. Matheus Cunha added the third on 60'. The Miami night also marked Neymar's return to World Cup action, welcomed by an ovation: Brazil top Group C and will face the Group F runners-up in the last 32. In Atlanta, meanwhile, pure theatre: Morocco came from behind to beat Haiti 4-2. The Caribbean side dreamed thanks to a Bounou own goal on 10' and an Isidor strike on 43', but Walid Regragui's men turned it around through Hakimi (39'), Saibari (45'+1), Rahimi (78') and Gessime Yassine (89'). Morocco finish second and qualify; Haiti go out with zero points.
In Group A, Mexico confirmed they are the tournament's biggest positive surprise. At the Estadio Azteca came a comfortable 3-0 over Czechia, signed by Mateo Chavez (55'), Julian Quinones (61') and Alvaro Fidalgo in stoppage time: three wins from three, nine goals scored and, above all, a clean sheet in all three games — something El Tri had not managed since 1986. The headlines, though, belonged to Guillermo 'Memo' Ochoa: on as a 77th-minute substitute, the 40-year-old goalkeeper played his sixth World Cup and joined an exclusive club featuring only Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo. In Monterrey, meanwhile, South Africa pulled off the feat of the night: a single Thapelo Maseko goal on 63', set up by Tshepang Moremi, was enough to beat South Korea 1-0 and send Bafana Bafana into the last 32 for the first time in their history. The Koreans, stuck on three points, must now hope to sneak through among the best third-placed sides.
Weighty verdicts in Group B too. In Vancouver, Switzerland beat Canada 2-1 to finish top of the group: Ruben Vargas early in the second half (46') and a gem from young Johan Manzambi (57') did the damage, before Promise David's consolation on 76'. It mattered little to the hosts, who qualified anyway: Canada reach the last 32 for the first time in their history, even if they left the field 'disappointed' by the defeat. In Seattle, Bosnia thrashed Qatar 3-1 — a Kerim Alajbegovic screamer on 29', an own goal and Ermin Mahmic's finish on 80' — to go through as one of the best third-placed teams. Above all, it was the storylines that lit up the night: Neymar's World Cup return, the everlasting Ochoa, and the historic firsts for South Africa and Canada. Left hanging, instead, are Scotland and South Korea, at the mercy of the best-third-placed math.
Another block of groups comes to a close. Tonight, Italian time, it is the turn of Groups E, F and D. We start at 10pm with Group E: in New York-New Jersey, Ecuador face an already-top Germany, while in Philadelphia Curacao — the smallest nation ever to reach a World Cup — take on Ivory Coast in the race for second. At 1am it is Group F: in Dallas, Japan meet Sweden, while in Kansas City the Netherlands (level on points with Japan) close out against an already-eliminated Tunisia. The grand finale comes at 4am with Group D: in Los Angeles, an already-qualified USA host Turkey in a match with nothing left to decide, while in San Francisco Paraguay-Australia is a winner-takes-all shootout for second place.
On we go, one night at a time. See you tomorrow at dawn.
Highlights
In Italy, full matches are on RaiPlay.
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