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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 in Sao Paulo.
Barcelona midfielder Philippe Coutinho and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos also scored the scoring, while star forward Neymar scored two goals in a one-sided encounter that put Brazil at the top of the South American standings.
The Brazil captain attributed his impressive victory to the determined way in which the five-time world champions approached the match.
“We certainly have to highlight the fact that we take this seriously,” Casemiro said.
“At no time did we try funny things, we were always respectful. That’s football, if you have the opportunity, try to score more. We take this game 100 percent seriously.”
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.
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 after winger Danilo passed a cross from the right after a corner kick.
Even a downpour in the first half couldn’t stop Brazil’s dominance as Coutinho forced a one-handed save 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 free kick from 40 meters by Fernando Salidas that missed the barrier.
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.
Updated: October 10, 2020 09:46 am
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