An irrepressible, irresistible Brazil lit up the evening sky on Monday with one of many performances of the World Cup to shred South Korea 4-1 and arrange a quarterfinal conflict with Croatia.
The Brazilians introduced a seashore soccer swagger to the long-lasting Stadium 974 with a show that merely overwhelmed the Koreans, and introduced an finish to Asian hopes on the match.
After Japan’s penalty shootout loss to Croatia earlier, and Australia’s loss to Argentina, it implies that all three Asian Confederation groups had been eradicated within the first knockout spherical.
Having failed to attain within the first half of any match up to now this match, five-time champion Brazil corrected that with 4 objectives earlier than the break, to finish the match as any significant contest early on.
It took solely seven minutes to breach the Korean defence for the primary time.
Raphina sliced by means of the purple wall — leaving a number of of its bricks flailing on the bottom — and, when his cross eluded the closely-marked Neymar, Vinicius Jr was on the far publish, an image of composure, to softly carry the ball over scrambling defenders and the desperately reaching goalkeeper.
If the Koreans had been winded by that early blow, worse was but to return. Five minutes later, Richarlison was hauled down within the penalty field and the referee immediately pointed to the spot.
Up stepped Neymar for a sport of cat-and-mouse with Kim Seung-gyu. The Korean stood to the far proper of his aim. Neymar waited, smiling. Finally, he trotted in the direction of the ball in his faltering run-up and left the wrong-footed ‘keeper sitting in the middle of his goal as he stroked the ball home for his 76th Brazil goal — one shy of the great Pele’s worldwide haul.
Brazil was effervescent in assault and organised in defence, limiting the South Koreans to lengthy photographs. By the half-hour mark it was 3-0, due to top-of-the-line objectives of the match.
Richarlison received the ball again in an aerial duel, saved it by heading it a number of instances – receiving a head within the face for his hassle – then juggling it together with his foot earlier than shedding and, in an astonishing transfer which scythed the Koreans to shreds, ran onto an incisive move from captain Thiago Silva to simply beat the goalkeeper.
Lucas Paqueta bought in on the act, firing house within the thirty sixth minute for 4-0. Brazil had an excessive amount of high quality up entrance, and was being given far an excessive amount of area.
That Brazil went in solely 4-0 up was as a lot to do with its profligacy as something the Koreans might muster by way of defence.
With their elaborate aim celebrations, the Brazilians had finished extra dancing than defending within the opening 45 minutes and the second half adopted the same sample, with goalkeeper Kim single-handedly denying Brazil one other hatful of objectives.
The yellow-clad superstars launched wave after wave of assault as a ragged Korea tried to carry on for honour.
A extra prosaic aspect would have added a number of objectives early within the second half, however seemingly you can not flip Brazil on and off, and possibilities went begging on account of overly elaborate flicks or backheels when the easy answer would have labored greatest.
It got here again to chunk the aspect when Korean substitute Paik Seung-ho thundered house a protracted distance screamer, aided by a slight deflection, to reward the purple staff for its infinite business with a comfort aim.
Brazil noticed the sport out – spurning half a dozen good possibilities earlier than the top – earlier than unfurling a banner of Pele, and dancing as soon as extra to have a good time with followers.
