Firmino brace helps Brazil hammer Bolivia in WC qualifier
10 October, 2020
Liverpool striker Roberto Firmino scored a brace as Brazil romped to a 5-0 victory over Bolivia within their opening 2022 World Cup qualifier on Friday.
Barcelona playmaker Philippe Coutinho and Paris Saint-Germain defender Marquinhos also got on the scoresheet while star forward Neymar set up two goals in a totally one-sided come across that sent Brazil the surface of the South American qualifying table.
In a Corinthians Arena deserted due to Covid-19 restrictions, Bolivia showed minimal ambition as Brazil dominated throughout, with PSG's Neymar starting after overcoming a back problem.
In the first minute, winger Everton volleyed wide from inside six-yard box and three minutes later his cross was headed off-target by Marquinhos from an identical position.
Bolivia couldn't escape their half, or on your golf ball, as Coutinho and Everton created a slew of chances down Brazil's left.
The pressure told on 16 minutes as Marquinhos headed home from the same position to his earlier chance as full-back Danilo swung over a cross from the proper carrying out a short corner.
A good first half downpour couldn't dampen Brazil's thrust as Coutinho forced a diving one-handed save from goalkeeper Carlos Lampe with a deflected shot.
At times it looked like a handball game with Brazil camped on the edge of Bolivia's box, and the visitors keeping 10 men behind the ball constantly.
But on the half hour, left-back Renan Lodi got in behind the defence and his cross from the left was turned home from barely a yard out by Firmino.
Lampe made an excellent one-handed save from a Casemiro free-kick and smothered a close range finish by Neymar.
By the finish of the first half, Bolivia had had significantly less than 20 percent possession and their only shot at goal was a free-kick from 40 yards by Fernando Salidas that didn't even beat the wall.
If there have been still any doubts Brazil would stroll to victory, these were dispelled three minutes in to the second period when a sublime pass from Neymar presented Firmino with a tap-in from six yards.
On 65 minutes, a cross from Coutinho flew in to the net off the unlucky Jose Carrasco's chest.
Coutinho then got on the scoresheet heading home a cross from Neymar from six yards.
Neymar's attempts to become listed on retired great Ronaldo as Brazil's second highest scorer ever were annoyed by an offside flag and an injury time save by Lampe.
In the night's other match, Atalanta pair Duvan Zapata and Luis Muriel fired Colombia to a 3-0 win over Venezuela.
Zapata slid in a Juan Cuadrado cross from within the six-yard box on 16 minutes and a brace from Muriel had settled the match by half-time.
Source: www.daily-sun.com