MIAMI : Vinicius Jr scored twice as Brazil secured top spot in World Cup Group C and advanced to the knockout stage with a comfortable 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday.
The Real Madrid forward struck early and again just before halftime as Brazil dominated proceedings, while Matheus Cunha added a second-half goal to complete a convincing win that left Scotland facing an anxious wait to discover whether they can progress as one of the tournament’s best third-placed teams.
Brazil’s victory, combined with Morocco’s 4-2 win over Haiti, ensured the five-time world champions finished top of the group and booked a place in the Round of 32, where they will face either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden in Houston next Monday.
Vinicius opened the scoring in the seventh minute after a defensive mix-up by Scotland gifted Brazil possession in a dangerous area. The winger capitalised ruthlessly, punishing the error to give his side an early advantage.
Brazil controlled the tempo throughout the first half and doubled their lead in stoppage time when Vinicius rose to head home, capping another influential display from the 25-year-old.
Any hopes of a Scottish comeback were effectively ended on the hour mark as Cunha finished off a well-worked move to make it 3-0.
The match also marked the long-awaited return of Neymar, whose appearance was warmly received by Brazilian supporters after an extended absence from international football.
Scotland struggled to impose themselves and produced a subdued first-half performance that frustrated their travelling supporters. Errors in possession and a lack of attacking threat left Steve Clarke’s side chasing the game for long periods against a confident Brazilian team.
Despite the defeat, Scotland’s World Cup hopes remain alive. Their final standing among the third-placed teams will determine whether they advance to the knockout rounds.
Brazil, meanwhile, continued to underline their status as one of the tournament favourites, combining defensive control with attacking flair as they moved smoothly into the next phase of the competition.
