PHILADELPHIA — Vinícius Júnior scored and assisted on one of Matheus Cunha’s two goals as five-time champion Brazil eliminated Haiti from the World Cup with a 3-0 victory on Friday night.
Haiti, the Western Hemisphere’s poorest nation that qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, became the first team guaranteed not to reach the knockout round. Meanwhile, the Seleção got the decisive performance they needed.
“We played a complete game, especially in the first half,” Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said after the match. “In the second half we controlled the game. Overall we played a good match.”
Cunha, the Manchester United standout, got the start and showed with every surf-and-slide goal celebration why he should have been in the starting lineup in Brazil’s listless 1-1 draw against Morocco.
Ancelotti made the surprising decision in the opener to instead insert Cunha as a late substitute.
Cunha thrilled the Brazilian fans who made up the bulk of the 68,324 spectators at Lincoln Financial Field when he tapped in a rebound for his first career World Cup goal. He then sent a left-footed strike into the upper left corner for a 2-0 lead in the first half against the overmatched Haitians.
“For this game, Mateus Cunha’s position was the right position to create problems for their defence,” Ancelotti said. “He moved well, he was on the end of through balls. He could be a solution. But next game I might change it.”
Brazil forward Raphinha, who was subbed out with an injury in the first half, had an early goal disallowed on an offside call that only temporarily muted the yellow-clad Seleção fans in an otherwise festive atmosphere at the home of the two-time Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles — whose cheerleaders did their part to rally the crowd.
Haitian fans danced and sang “Grenadye Alaso” (“Grenadiers to the Attack”), the traditional battle cry of the national team. Brazilians chanted back, reminding them their country is the five-time World Cup champion and the home of the king of soccer: “A thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals! Only Pelé, only Pelé!”
Cunha added to the frivolity in Philadelphia, home to nearly 6,000 Brazilian immigrants, when he flashed his familiar surfing celebration.
“Being able to wear the No. 9 jersey at the World Cup — I try to look on the bright side,” Cunha said after the game. “You know that so many great players have worn that jersey and played for Brazil, and now you’re just one more name in history who gets to do the same.
“The weight of the jersey is part of whatever number you wear. You saw the stadium packed today. That’s what Brazil is all about, the streets painted. I see it much more as a privilege than a burden to carry.”
Vinícius, whose 32nd-minute goal helped Brazil earn the tie against Morocco, helped Brazil get on the board when his shot was stopped by goalkeeper Johny Placide and Cunha was there to slam home the rebound to make it 1-0. Cunha extended both arms as if trying to catch some tasty waves and was mobbed his teammates.
Real Madrid attacker Vinícius slid a pass through the defense to find Cunha and he powered one high into the net that Placide never had a chance to stop to make it 2-0. Cunha slid on his stomach and mimicked a swimming motion that all but put Haiti in the drink — and validate the Brazilians’ fans decision not to tempt fate and dress the Rocky statue in team gear for bad luck.
Vinícius closed the half with a goal and that was enough to keep Brazil — seeking its first World Cup title since 2002 — happy before it closes Group C play against Scotland on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida.
Brazil failed to score in the second half against a resilient Haiti side and had an Endrick goal ruled out for offside.
“Our system changed a bit, we hit woodwork, we had a goal disallowed,” Ancelotti said about the second half. “We could have played better [in second half], we lacked a bit of intensity. But we also need to think about the games coming up.”
Neymar was ruled out of Brazil’s second straight match because of a lingering calf injury.
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ESPN writer Gab Marcotti also contributed.
