2022 FIFA World Cup Qualifiers: Roberto Firmino’s double propels Brazil to a resounding victory over Bolivia in the opening match

Saint Paul: Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino scored a double in Brazil’s 5-0 win over Bolivia in their first qualifying match for the 2022 World Cup on Friday.

Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos also scored on the scoreboard, while star forward Neymar scored two goals in a totally one-sided encounter that put Brazil at the top of the South American standings.

In a deserted Corinthians Arena due to Covid-19 restrictions, Bolivia showed almost no ambition as Brazil dominated throughout, with PSG’s Neymar starting after overcoming a back problem.

In the first minute, the Everton winger volleyed from inside the six-yard box and three minutes later his cross was shot deflected by Marquinhos from a similar position.

Bolivia couldn’t get off their field, or on the ball, as Coutinho and Everton created a host of opportunities down Brazil’s left.

The pressure was noticeable in the 16th minute, when Marquinhos headed home from a position identical to his previous opportunity when full-back Danilo passed a cross from the right after a corner kick.

Not even a downpour in the first half could stop Brazil’s drive when Coutinho forced a one-handed dive from goalkeeper Carlos Lampe with a deflected shot.

At times it seemed like a handball game with Brazil camping on the edge of the Bolivian box, and the visitors keeping 10 men behind the ball at all times.

But within half an hour, left-back Renan Lodi came in from behind the defense and his center from the left was turned home from just a yard off Firmino.

Lampe made a good save with one hand from a Casemiro free kick and then put down a close-range shot from Neymar.

At the end of the first half, Bolivia had less than 20 percent possession and their only shot on goal was a 40-yard free kick from Fernando Salidas that didn’t even hit the wall.

If there were still doubts that Brazil would be heading to victory, it dissipated within three minutes of the second half when a sublime pass from Neymar gave Firmino a six-yard pass.

In the 65th minute, a Coutinho center flew into the net on the unfortunate José Carrasco’s chest.

Coutinho then headed into the scoreboard with a Neymar cross from six yards.

Neymar’s attempts to join the retired great Ronaldo as Brazil’s second top scorer of all time were thwarted by an offside flag and stoppage in stoppage time from Lampe.

In the other game of the night, Atalanta’s couple, Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel, led Colombia to a 3-0 victory over Venezuela.

Zapata slipped a Juan Cuadrado cross from within the six-yard box in the 16th minute and a double by Muriel ended the game at halftime.