Brazil kicked off their World Cup campaign with a hard fought 3-1 win over Croatia who arrived harder than the anticipation of Luis Phelipe Scolari’s boys at the Arena de Sao Paulo, Brazil yesterday.
Local star Neymar scored a brace and Oscar fired the other against Croatia who mixed power with their counter-attacking strategy making life hard for the three-time champions.
Brazil had to absorb a shock in the 11th minute when midfielder Marcelo put the ball into the back of his own net after great work from Ivica Olic who cured a low cross to Nikica Jelavic. But the latter’s mis-hit fell into the feet of the Real Madrid fullback and rolled into the near post net.
Credit goes to Oscar, whose tenacity in midfield helped him win the ball back at the edge of the Croatia half. He tapped the ball forward and it was
Neymar magic. The golden boy of Brazil made his way through and from 20 yards unleashed a low left-footed shot that hit the base of the post beating Croat goalie Stipe Pletioska and crossed the goal line.
Brazil came close to a strike on a few occasions but Fred and Hulk failed to live up to the expectation in the first half, letting the tempo down of the Selecaos.
Neymar flooded the stadium with an ocean of joy with a penalty goal in the 71 minute. Oscar cut the ball back to Fred in the middle of the box with Dejan Lovren on his back.
As the two fought for the ball, Lovren touched Fred but it was not too hard although Fred tumbled under minimal contact and Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura awarded the spot kick. Neymar’s shot was duly judged by Pletioska but it went between his gloves.
Oscar hammered in the last nail in the stoppage time as he advanced lonely and neatly prodded a low shot into the bottom corner to send Brazil wild.
