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Brazil defeated Serbia 2-0 in their World Cup opener on Thursday, with Richarlison scoring two second-half goals, including a spectacular overhead kick, though Neymar’s ankle injury dampened their celebrations.
Richarlison has been in excellent form for Brazil this season, opening the scoring with an easy tap-in before doubling the lead with an acrobatic effort.
It was his ninth goal for Brazil in seven games in 2022, as Brazil moved ahead of Switzerland, who defeated Cameroon 1-0, to lead Group G. Serbia is at the bottom.
“As our professor, Tite says, ‘you are smelling goals’, and that’s what’s happening. It’s a wonderful night, a beautiful victory and now we have six games to reach our goal,” Richarlison said.
Tite’s decision to go with four forwards in his attacking lineup – Neymar, Vinicius Jr., Raphinha, and Richarlison – paid off handsomely as the South Americans dominated the match and made Serbia work hard every time they went forward.
Vinicius used his flair and acceleration to consistently beat his man, while Neymar found pockets of space in a free role, but a well-drilled Serbian defence kept Brazil at bay in the first half.
Brazil’s best chance of the half came from a corner, when Neymar tried to catch Torino goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic off guard by whipping in an inswinger that was on target before the Torino player punched it clear.
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