Mexico was a scare at first, but Brazil is moving forward.
"It was Neymar's best performance in the World Cup. Coutinho, decisive in other games, was subdued. Gabriel Jesus continues to play very poorly, despite a slight improvement in the second half, and risks losing his place to Firmino, who came on and scored his goal. Willian was the best player on the field, waking up from his bureaucratic torpor," says journalist Mauro Lopes, editor of 247.
By Mauro Lopes, in his Facebook
Mexico started the game on the attack, dominating and creating sharp plays. At 1 minute and 45 seconds, the excellent playmaker Vela almost scored the first goal for Obrador's team. It was a surprise and a nail-biter for the Brazilian team.
Five minutes into the game, you could hear the Mexican fans chanting "olé." At 13 minutes, a deafening booing erupted when Brazil touched the ball. And so it went. On the field and in the stands, it was all Mexico. At 20 minutes, more chants of olé.
It wasn't until the 24th minute that Brazil began to equalize, with a dangerous play, a beautiful run by Neymar into the Mexican penalty area that ended with a shot saved by Ochoa. In the 32nd minute, another dangerous play, with a shot from Gabriel Jesus inside the penalty area, once again saved by Ochoa.
In the second half, Brazil started better, stifling Mexico, and had a dangerous shot from Philippe Coutinho just 2 minutes in, followed by intense pressure until Neymar's goal in the 6th minute, in Willian's first good play of the World Cup. With the counter-attack available, due to the Mexican team's advance, Paulinho almost scored the second goal in the 14th minute, with another fine save by Ochoa. In the 18th minute, Willian, on the right, unleashed a shot that forced another difficult save from Ochoa, who, at the time, was the best player on the field.
It wasn't until the 24th minute that Mexico troubled the Brazilian team again, but that was all.
Neymar once again starred in a ridiculous scene, a performance worthy of a Mexican soap opera. Stepped on by Layún after a collision off the field, he began to roll, pound the ground, and yell in such a childishly dramatic way that no one took him seriously. Game after game, Neymar is consolidating the image of a player who offends the spirit of sportsmanship, despite being a star with the ball at his feet when he's not upset.
Mexico, impetuous at the start, lost steam after a tense period that didn't result in the goal planned by coach Antonio Osorio, and throughout the second half, allowed the Brazilian team to dominate the game without major scares. Solid in defense and with the counter-attack at their disposal, Brazil decided everything with Neymar's lightning-fast run, which ended with another save by Ochoa, but this time a partial one, gifting the goal to Firmino, who didn't miss.
Despite the ridiculous scene, it was Neymar's best performance in the World Cup. Coutinho, decisive in other games, was subdued. Gabriel Jesus continues to play very poorly, despite a slight improvement in the second half, and risks losing his place to Firmino, who came on and scored his goal. Willian was the best player on the pitch, waking up from his bureaucratic lethargy.
Now we wait for Belgium.