World Cup 2018: Brazil beat Mexico 2-0 to reach quarter-finals
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Highlights: Brazil 2-0 Mexico
Neymar scored one goal and played a key role in the second as Brazil edged out Mexico in Samara to reach the World Cup quarter-finals for a seventh consecutive time.
Brazil did not have it all their own way, especially in an opening period dominated by Mexico, but the five-time winners grew into what became a controlled performance.
It means Mexico are once again eliminated at the last-16 stage - as they have been at every World Cup since 1994.
They did have plenty of chances early on, and it was only after a largely frustrating first half for Brazil that Neymar started the move to put his side ahead.
His run across goal and clever backheel won Willian space, and the Chelsea midfielder only needed two touches to drive into box and lay the ball across for the world's most expensive player to slide home.
It was Brazil's 227th goal at the World Cup, meaning they overtake Germany as the all-time top scorers.
Just moments earlier, Mexico's Jesus Gallardo wasted a brilliant chance when he shot wildly over the crossbar instead of playing in Hirving Lozano.
- Relive Brazil's last-16 victory over Mexico
For much of the second half, Mexico's bright start was just a memory, but Carlos Vela forced a save from Brazil goalkeeper Alisson with his side's first shot on target not long after going behind.
In the match's closing stages they rallied once more, but Brazil defended stoically before doubling their lead on the break through a Roberto Firmino tap-in after Neymar's effort was diverted by the toe of Mexico goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.
Brazil will face Belgium or Japan - who meet in Rostov-on-Don in the day's second match (19:00 BST) - in their last-eight tie in Kazan on Friday.
But they will be without Real Madrid midfielder Casemiro, who will be suspended after being shown his second yellow card of the tournament.
'Embarrassing from Neymar'
Neymar has been fouled 23 times at the 2018 World Cup, more than any other player.
Given his contribution, Neymar should have garnered only positive headlines, but he was the centre of attention for the wrong reasons too after overreacting to a challenge from Miguel Layun in the closing stages.
The Mexico full-back appeared to press his studs against Neymar's ankle as he retrieved the ball from between the Brazilian's legs.
Neymar, who was sitting down, writhed around in apparent agony before getting up to carry on without any issue.
"I'm embarrassed for Neymar," said former England striker Dion Dublin on BBC Radio 5 live.
"He is one of the world's greatest players but when he rolls about on the floor, I just don't get it. Come on young man you're better than that, get on with the game."
Brazil get the job done - again
Neymar has scored six goals from 38 shots in World Cup tournaments
Brazil are aiming to emulate the many great teams before them, while putting behind the heartache they suffered at the tournament they hosted four years ago, when Germany destroyed them 7-1 in the semi-finals.
Tite's side did not really hit their stride in the group stage. After being held to 1-1 draw with Switzerland they needed two injury-time goals to beat Costa Rica 2-0, and it was only in the second half that we really began to see their best against Mexico.
They would have been out of sight far sooner than the 88th minute were it not for Ochoa, who made several excellent saves after the break.
Either side of Neymar's strike, the Standard Liege goalkeeper thwarted powerful drives from Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho, before making his most stunning save to block a Willian stinging drive that for everything looked destined for the top corner.
It kept his side in with a chance of a late equaliser, but Brazil just seem to be a team that know how to win knockout matches and get the job done.
They retreated behind the ball as Mexico threw everything forward, and pounced clinically on the counter to make sure progress would be safe.
The last time they failed to reach quarter-finals was in 1990.
More heartache for Mexico
Guillermo Ochoa conceded six goals in four games at the 2018 World Cup
There is a national obsession in Mexico that centres on a failure to go beyond four games at a World Cup, stretching back 32 years.
Only once have they done so - at the 1986 tournament they hosted, when they beat Bulgaria in the last 16 before falling to West Germany.
It remains the only World Cup knockout-stage victory in Mexico's history.
Rafael Marquez, 39, may well remember watching the match. He captained the side against Brazil in Samara, on his first start at a joint record fifth World Cup, before being withdrawn at half-time.
It was not purely down to his influence, but Mexico played their best football in the opening period, when they created several good chances but failed to score.
Vela picked out Hector Herrera in the area but the midfielder took too many touches and his shot was blocked, while Javier Hernandez just failed to connect with a Lozano cross.
In the second half, it was Gallardo's decision not to find the galloping Lozano on the left wing that eventually proved the most costly miss, as Brazil punished them minutes later.
Mexico have made the last 16 at every tournament since 1994 - only Brazil have achieved the same - but they have lost every time.
This year will feel like another missed opportunity.
They started the tournament brilliantly with a 1-0 win over Germany, then beat South Korea 2-1, before a 3-0 defeat by Sweden set up a knockout tie with Brazil, a team they have now never scored against in five World Cup meetings.
Neymar (Brazil) - man of the match
He received the game's lowest rating on the BBC Sport Player Rater, but Neymar once again reminded us of his ability to summon danger at will. His footballing contribution was crucial to Brazil's victoryGood reading for Brazil - the stats
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Brazil have won eight of their nine World Cup matches against North American, Central American and Caribbean nations, conceding in just one.
Since the introduction of the round of 16 in 1986, Mexico have been eliminated at this stage of the World Cup seven times - more than twice as many as any other nation.
Brazil are unbeaten in 15 matches in all competitions, conceding just three goals.
Firmino scored two minutes and four seconds after coming on, the second fastest goal from a substitute at the 2018 World Cup.
Neymar has been involved in 20 goals in his past 19 games in all competitions for Brazil, scoring 11 and assisting nine.
Firmino scored his seventh goal for Brazil - on each occasion it has been their final goal of the game.
Neymar has had the most shots (23), shots on target (12) and created the most chances (16) of any player so far at the 2018 World Cup.
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Line-ups
Match Stats
Live Text
Line-ups
Brazil
1Alisson
22Fagner
2Thiago Silva
3Miranda
6Filipe LuísBooked at 43mins
19WillianSubstituted forMarquinhosat 90+1'minutes
15PaulinhoSubstituted forFernandinhoat 80'minutes
5CasemiroBooked at 59mins
11CoutinhoSubstituted forRoberto Firminoat 86'minutes
9Gabriel Jesus
10Neymar
Substitutes
4Geromel
8Renato Augusto
12Marcelo
13Marquinhos
14Danilo
16Cássio
17Fernandinho
18Fred
20Roberto Firmino
21Barcellos Freda
23Ederson
Mexico
13Ochoa
21ÁlvarezBooked at 38minsSubstituted forJ dos Santosat 55'minutes
2Ayala
3SalcedoBooked at 77mins
23Gallardo
16HerreraBooked at 55mins
4MárquezSubstituted forLayúnat 45'minutes
18GuardadoBooked at 90mins
22Lozano
14Javier HernándezSubstituted forJiménezat 60'minutes
11Vela
Substitutes
1J Corona
5Gutiérrez
6J dos Santos
7Layún
8Fabián
9Jiménez
10G dos Santos
12Talavera
17JM Corona
19Peralta
20Aquino
Referee:
Gianluca Rocchi
Attendance:
41,970
Match Stats
Home TeamBrazilAway TeamMexico
Possession
Home49%
Away51%
Shots
Home20
Away14
Shots on Target
Home10
Away1
Corners
Home8
Away7
Fouls
Home6
Away17
Live Text
Posted at
Match ends, Brazil 2, Mexico 0.
Full TimePosted at 90'+7'
Second Half ends, Brazil 2, Mexico 0.
Posted at 90'+5'
Attempt blocked. Raúl Jiménez (Mexico) right footed shot from the right side of the box is blocked. Assisted by Hirving Lozano.
Posted at 90'+3'
Carlos Vela (Mexico) wins a free kick in the attacking half.
Posted at 90'+3'
Foul by Gabriel Jesus (Brazil).
Posted at 90'+2'
Attempt missed. Hirving Lozano (Mexico) right footed shot from a difficult angle on the right is close, but misses the top right corner.
BookingPosted at 90'+2'
Andrés Guardado (Mexico) is shown the yellow card.
Posted at 90'+2'
Foul by Héctor Herrera (Mexico).
Posted at 90'+2'
Neymar (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 90'+1'
Substitution, Brazil. Marquinhos replaces Willian.
Goal!Posted at 88'
Goal! Brazil 2, Mexico 0. Roberto Firmino (Brazil) right footed shot from very close range to the centre of the goal following a fast break.
Posted at 88'
Attempt saved. Neymar (Brazil) right footed shot from the left side of the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Fernandinho.
Posted at 87'
Offside, Mexico. Hugo Ayala tries a through ball, but Carlos Vela is caught offside.
SubstitutionPosted at 86'
Substitution, Brazil. Roberto Firmino replaces Coutinho.
Posted at 86'
Corner, Mexico. Conceded by Fagner.
Posted at 84'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
Posted at 83'
Delay in match Thiago Silva (Brazil) because of an injury.
Posted at 82'
Foul by Jesús Gallardo (Mexico).
Posted at 82'
Thiago Silva (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
SubstitutionPosted at 80'
Substitution, Brazil. Fernandinho replaces Paulinho.
BookingPosted at 77'
Carlos Salcedo (Mexico) is shown the yellow card for a bad foul.
Posted at 76'
Foul by Carlos Salcedo (Mexico).
Posted at 76'
Neymar (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 75'
Attempt saved. Willian (Brazil) left footed shot from outside the box is saved in the centre of the goal. Assisted by Casemiro.
Posted at 75'
Casemiro (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 75'
Foul by Héctor Herrera (Mexico).
Posted at 70'
Willian (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 70'
Foul by Hirving Lozano (Mexico).
Posted at 70'
Attempt blocked. Andrés Guardado (Mexico) right footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
Posted at 68'
Corner, Brazil. Conceded by Carlos Salcedo.
Posted at 68'
Attempt blocked. Neymar (Brazil) left footed shot from the centre of the box is blocked. Assisted by Willian.
Posted at 66'
Foul by Héctor Herrera (Mexico).
Posted at 66'
Neymar (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 65'
Attempt missed. Hirving Lozano (Mexico) right footed shot from the right side of the box misses to the left. Assisted by Andrés Guardado.
Posted at 63'
Corner, Brazil. Conceded by Guillermo Ochoa.
Posted at 63'
Attempt saved. Willian (Brazil) right footed shot from the right side of the box is saved in the top centre of the goal. Assisted by Filipe Luís.
Posted at 63'
Miranda (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 63'
Foul by Raúl Jiménez (Mexico).
Posted at 62'
Willian (Brazil) wins a free kick in the defensive half.
Posted at 62'
Foul by Héctor Herrera (Mexico).
Show more updates
goal
Source: bbc.com
Source: bbc.com
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