Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 as Neymar rises above challenges

Brazil took a step closer to getting their name on the World Cup, as they put on a fine display to outclass Mexico 2-0 in the round of 16 match at the Samara Arena. Neymar scored the first and made the assist for the second which was put away by Firmino. Brazil’s second goal was their 228th goal at the World Cup, making them top scorers, edging past Germany.

Mexico did try to get physical, and they did bring down Neymar, but couldn’t make a dent in his spirit. The former Barcelona man proved his worth as he made Mexico pay. It all went according to plan for Brazil, who would now face the winners of the Belgium-Japan match. However, Brazil will miss Casemiro in their quarterfinal clash, after he picked up a second yellow. It would be interesting to see how much damage that would cause, should they meet Belgium.

Brazil and Mexico had met 40 times previously, with Brazil winning 23 and Mexico 10. Of the four times they met at the World Cup, Brazil won thrice and drew the other. But it was Mexico who started strong, with Guardado causing problems down the left flank. His cross in the second minute was punched clear by Alisson but drew a shot from Hirving Lozano which was blocked by Miranda. Neymar announced his arrival in the fifth minute as he set a fierce drive on goal, but was denied by Ochoa. Lozano gave Brazil a scare in the 15th minute when he tore down the pitch beating Filipe Luis to send a cross into the penalty area but it was far away from Javier Hernandez. Mexico looked promising in the 22nd minute, when Carlos Vela’s pass found Hector Herrera, who waited to cut back on to his left foot, but his shot was blocked.

Brazil found their rhythm soon. Neymar, Coutinho and Willian started creating problems for the Mexican defence. Neymar had a shot blocked in the 26th minute. Mexico panicked in the resultant corner. Ochoa was forced to clear Gabriel Jesus’s shot and Coutinho later fired over the bar. The half ended with both teams on level. Mexico had started strong but Brazil had found their zeal. They launched a barrage of attacks, but couldn’t break the deadlock. They could sniff a goal coming.

Brazil came out strong in the second half. They seemed to have shaken off their blues from the first half. In the 51^st minute, Neymar got the ball outside the box, took a few touches, pulling the defenders along, and back-heeled it to Willian, who ran ahead with the ball into the box and crossed from the left. Jesus missed it, but Neymar was behind him to tap it in and give Brazil the lead.

Carlos Vela looked like he might provide Mexico’s much needed equaliser, but Alisson tipped it over the crossbar in the 63rd minute. Hector Herrera and Guardado took shots on goal, but Brazil's defence stood tall. Neymar and Layun were involved in a tussle in the 71st minute, with the Brazil forward rolling over in pain. Replays showed that Layun had stood on his ankle. But no foul was awarded to Brazil. Mexico continued to get physical, the pressure bringing out the worst from them. The challenges weren’t enough to keep Neymar quite. In the 88^th minute, he ran down the left flank and into the penalty box. He toe-poked a shot, which was saved by an outstretched Ochoa's foot, but the ball was deflected on to Firmino's path, who put it away to give Brazil a 2-0 lead.

After a series of high-profile exits, this was a scoreline that brought normalcy back into the 2018 World Cup. Brazil came into the match as favourites, but judging by the way this tournament’s script had changed so often, there was reason to expect Mexico to rise as the dark horses. In the end, it was Brazil’s night and deservedly so. Neymar may have got his name on the scoresheet, but Willian could have easily been the player of the match. His blistering runs caused much panic in the Mexican defence. Brazil will now await either Belgium or Japan in the quarterfinal, to be played on July 6.