With an assist from Neymar, Roberto Firmino finds the net. (Dan Mullan/Getty Images)
Brazil 2, Mexico 0
Samara Arena, Samara
Brazil and Neymar served notice that they remain a force to be reckoned with in this World Cup. Not that it’s catching anyone by surprise — Brazil is, after all, a powerhouse, and the betting favorite to win the title — but with Neymar taking charge in the second half, it advanced past the round of 16 with a 2-0 victory over Mexico.
The result is a crushing disappointment for El Tri, which opened the World Cup with such promise, upsetting reigning champion Germany. But Mexico faltered against Sweden in its group stage finale, and has now lost in the round of 16 in seven consecutive World Cups. No country has played in more World Cup games without ever winning the tournament.
Brazil, the five-time champions, is the reverse of Mexico at this stage of the World Cup. This is the seventh straight tournament in which the Selecao have advanced at least to the quarterfinals.
Brazil will play the Japan-Belgium winner in a 2 p.m. Eastern quarterfinal Friday in Kazan. Japan and Belgium play at 2 p.m. Monday; follow that match here.
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In-game updates
In a second half dominated by Neymar, Brazil effectively put the game out of reach. Neymar sprinted down the field toward the goal, getting off a shot that a closing Roberto Firmino put into the net in the 89th minute.
Neymar feels a foot
Controversy arises when Neymar goes to the ground in a tussle with Miguel Layun and suddenly starts rolling in agony and gripping his right ankle.
Replays showed that Layun stepped on his ankle. After a few minutes of treatment and agonized emoting that was either real or pretend, Neymar remains in the game in the 70th minute. Of course he does. No yellow card.
Moments later Carlos Salcedo is given a yellow for getting physical with Neymar, whose acting game, like his soccer game, is on point.
GOAL!
Neymar breaks through, giving Brazil a 1-0 lead by taking a pass from Willian and putting it past Guillermo Ochoa in the opening minutes of the second half.
Willian drove through the penalty area as Neymar curled toward the goal, kicking home Willian’s pass across the face of the goal. He was second in line waiting to take the Willian pass, but his quickness gave him the advantage and he scores from about three yards out. The goal made Brazil the World Cup’s all-time leader in goals, breaking a tie with Germany, according to ESPN.
Gisele is giddy
Supermodel Gisele Bündchen is pretty excited about her country’s performance in the World Cup.
Chicharito out
Javier Hernandez comes off in the 60th minute, with Raul Jimenez replacing him. Hernandez has been limping and grabbing at the back of his leg.
Philippe Coutinho gets a nice look at the goal three minutes into the second half but Ochoa is again in the right place at the right time.
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First-half updates
Brazil has dominated with 11 shots (three on goal) in the first half, but Mexico is holding them off, and the teams take a 0-0 score into halftime. Neymar has had the best chances so far for Brazil, which has come on strong after Mexico’s initial energetic burst.
Still, Mexico is playing well and this match is delivering all the excitement and emotion that was expected of it. Although Javier Hernandez was grabbing at the back of his right leg in the first half, he is back on the pitch.
Felipe Luis gets a yellow card for bringing down Carlos Vela in the 42nd minute, but Vela’s kick produces nothing.
In the 38th minute, Edson Alvarez takes down Neymar and earns a yellow card for his efforts. Although Neymar rolled multiple times after the collision, this time he wasn’t overacting. (Really.) His free kick, though, sails over the bar and Mexico holds fast.
Neymar gets a great chance, controlling the ball as he moves toward the goal, but Guillermo Ochoa gets a hand on the ball in the 25th minute. Brazil is starting to find gaps.
Mexico continues to take the fight to Brazil, but in the 18th minute Chicharito (Javier Hernandez) is grabbing at his hamstring a bit. That’s a situation worth keeping an eye on. Brazil has a slight edge on possession at the 22-minute mark, 51 to 49 percent.
Mexico has the early flurry, but Brazil charges down the field and, in the fourth minute, Neymar gets his first chance with a shot on goal from the middle of the field. Guillermo Ochoa fields it cleanly. Mexico continues to press, but with no results. As expected, Mexico comes out fast and strong, taking the game to Brazil early.
The Samara arena is rocking, with a crowd that seems to side more with Mexico. Perhaps they’re just rooting for another upset in a tournament that has been filled with them. It’s a warm day, but the humidity is low and it’s bearable.
Team profiles
Brazil
- Previous results: 1-1 tie with Switzerland; 2-0 victories over Costa Rica and Serbia.
- Best World Cup finish: Champions in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002.
- Notable: Brazil last failed to reach the quarterfinals 28 years ago.
- FIFA world ranking: 2. ELO world ranking: 1.
Mexico
- Previous results: 1-0 victory over Germany; 2-1 victory over South Korea; 3-0 loss to Sweden.
- Best World Cup finish: Fourth place, 1966.
- Notable: No country has played more World Cup games (56) without ever winning the trophy.
- FIFA world ranking: 15. ELO world ranking: 19.
Read more about the World Cup:
Russia goes into the bunker vs. Spain, and emerges with a huge World Cup upset
Croatia pushes past Denmark on penalty kicks to reach World Cup quarterfinals
The World Cup knockout round is underway. Here’s the bracket and schedule.
No Ronaldo? No Messi? No problem: Nine names to know for the rest of the World Cup.
Exit Lionel Messi, enter Kylian Mbappe as France powers ahead in World Cup
Ranking the eliminated World Cup teams by sympathy factor
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