In a double-record night, in which Neymar was both a gladiator and a magician, Brazil beat Peru 2-0 in Recife and extended its streak of consecutive victories that keeps it the lonely leader of the South American qualifier towards Qatar-2022.
With the aim of challenging his friend Lionel Messi, who on Thursday beat Pelé as the top scorer of a South American team, the Seleçao’s ’10’ scored an assist and a goal at the Arena stadium in Pernambuco (northeast).
In the 14th minute, the PSG star stole a ball from defender Anderson Santamaría before assisting Everton Ribeiro, who beat Pedro Gallese with his left foot. And then, in 40, he pushed a ball under the goal after a shot from Flamengo’s midfielder that slipped between the Inca defenders.
The goal made him the top Brazilian scorer in the qualifying rounds, with 12 goals, one more than Romario and Zico, and allowed Brazil to complete eight victories in as many games in the South American World Cup.
By beating Ricardo Gareca’s Peru, Tite’s ‘Canarinha’ shook off the embarrassment in Sunday’s superclassic against Argentina in Sao Paulo, suspended for an alleged violation of anticovid protocols by four Argentine players.
With half of the race to go, Brazil has 24 points, six more than Albiceleste, while the Incas remained in the seventh box, but now five points from the qualifying zone. AFP (HN)
DATA SHEET
Lineups:
Brazil: Weverton – Danilo (Matheus Cunha 63), Lucas Veríssimo, Eder Militao, Alex Sandro – Everton Ribeiro (Dani Alves 63), Casemiro (Bruno Guimaraes 78), Gerson Santos da Silva (Edenilson 84), Lucas Tolentino Coelho de Lima – Gabriel Barbosa Almeida (Hulk 84), Neymar. DT: Tite.
Peru: Pedro Gallese – Luis Advíncula, Anderson Santamaría (Christian Ramos 46), Alexander Callens, Marcos López – Christofer Gonzales, André Carrillo, Renato Tapia (Wilder Cartagena 59), Christian Cueva (Edison Flores 46), Yoshimar Yotún (Gabriel Costa 60) – Gianluca Lapadula (Raúl Ruidíaz 73). DT: Ricardo Gareca.
Goals:
Brazil: Everton Ribeiro (15), Neymar (40)
Banns:
Brazil: Casemiro (44), Tolentino Coelho de Lima (57), Barbosa Almeida (66), Neymar (90)
Peru: Santamaria (30), Tapia (35), Yotún (38), Costa (63), Gonzales (65)
Stadium: Arena Pernambuco (Recife)
Referee: Wilmar Roldán (COL)