Two goals from Neymar and an injury time Oscar strike helped Brazil to come from one goal behind and beat Croatia 3-1 in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup at the Arena de Sao Paulo on Thursday night.
The Five times World Cup winners fell behind to an early own goal from Marcelo when he turned a cross into his own net to put Croatia ahead just after 11 minutes. But the Hosts were level when Neymar ,who could have been sent off for apparent elbow on Luka Modric, equalised from 25 yards following Oscar’s powerful run.
Neymar scored the 71st-minute penalty after Dejan Lovren was adjudged by Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura to have fouled Fred who appeared to throw himself to the ground. And the Star man of the day Oscar added a stunning third goal in stoppage time to put the result beyond any doubt as the home side opened the World Cup with victory.
The Victory saw Brazil top Group A with Three points, while Croatia is at the bottom with zero, the remaining two teams in the group, Mexico and Cameroon will crash on Friday afternoon.
Match facts Brazil: Julio Cesar; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, Luiz , Marcelo , Paulinho(Hernanes 63) , Gustavo , Hulk (Bernard 68), Oscar, Neymar(Ramires 88), Fred. Subs not used: Jefferson, Fernandinho, Dante, Maxwell, Henrique, Willian, Jo, Maicon, Victor. Goals:Neymar 29′, 71′ (pen), Oscar 90 Croatia: Pletikosa , Srna, Corluka, Lovren, Vrsaljko; Modric , Rakitic , Perisic , Kovacic (Brozovic 62), Olic , Jelavic. Subs not used: Zelenika, Pranjic, Vukojevic, Schildenfeld, Rebic, Sammir, Vida, Eduardo, Subasic. Goals:Marcelo 11′ (og) Man of the match: Neymar. Referee: Yuichi Nishimura (Japan). Attendance:62,103
Source:Sokka
UM– USEKE.RW
