In the sixth match of the knockout round, Brazil set a dominant win over South Korea with a score of 4-1. They stormed their way into their 8th consecutive World Cup Quarter Final and their 17th Quarter Final in the World Cup.
Match Highlights
Vinícius Júnior scored the 1st goal in the 7th minute.
In the 13th minute, the 2nd goal was followed by Richarlison that was fouled in the box.
In the same 13th minute, Neymar PK scored the 2nd goal.
Richarlison scored the 3rd goal in the 29th minute.
The 4th goal was by Lucas Paquetá in the 36th minute.
South Korea’s Paik Seung-Ho scored a laser beam goal from outside the box.
The sixth match of the Qatar FIFA World Cup round of 16 was impressive. With the first whistle, Brazil dominated the ground. In the first half, Brazil exploited South Korea. The team was irresistible on the ground. Within 45 minutes, they had scored 4-0.
The South Korean team was a bit loose at the start and caused their problems by pushing so far up the pitch and leaving so few players back. Brazil saw the pattern and still had to know how to exploit it. And they brilliantly did it.
Vinícius steered the match with an opening goal in the 7th minute. The second goal by Richarlison was a foul. He was brought down by a clumsy kick from Jung Woo-young and the French referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot.
Neymar quickly converted this first-half penalty into a goal. This was his 76th goal with Brazil. Neymar moved one shy of Pele’s all-time scoring record with the national team.
The third and the fourth goal by Richarlison and Lucas Paquetà were things of beauty. They were fast and crisp.
From that point, Brazil has become unstoppable.
The second half was a calm non-event. Brazil had taken its foot off the gas, and South Korea adopted a much less kamikaze approach. The teams showed some life after Paik Seung-Ho scored a laser beam goal from outside the box, which was his first-ever competitive goal for South Korea in the second half.
South Korea was outclassed for large parts of the game, yet they had plenty of chances and ran into one of the world’s best goalkeepers in Liverpool’s Alisson.
The second half was merely an exhibition for Brazil, with only impressive Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu who forced several fine saves from Brazil. South Korea had worked tirelessly and bravely to contain the damage.
Brazil delivered an ominous message to their World Cup rivals with this match. With a dazzling display of attacking brilliance to dismantle South Korea and set up a quarterfinal against Croatia.
Match Insights
After the full-time, Neymar and his team members brought a banner to the ground with Pelé’s name written. The audience also paid tribute to Pelé during the match. Brazil has given the best honor to Pelé, who was watching live in his hospital bed in São Paolo.
Neymar’s goal was an outstanding return to action after injury at Stadium 974. He has become the third Brazilian, after Pelé and Ronaldo, to score in three World Cups.
With this win, Brazil marched into their 8th consecutive World Cup Quarter Final. This would also be their 17th Quarter Final in the World Cup.
Brazil vs South Korea was the last match at Stadium 974. With 4-0 before half-time, Brazil hit heights no other team has reached this World Cup. After this match, Stadium 974 will be completely dismantled.
Brazil will face the 2018 finalists, Croatia, in a blockbuster quarterfinal clash.
