FIFA 2018 World Cup: Brazil Edges Out Costa Rica

Brazil pulled two rabbits out of the hat right towards the end of their encounter with Costa Rica after the  first half ended goalless.

Philippe Coutinho scored a late-minute goal at the 91st minute while Neymar Jr hammered in the decider in the 97th minute.

The two goals brightened their chances of advancing to the next round of sixteen with four points from two matches after they drew with Switzerland in the opening encounter.

The first stage – Group E match between the South American soccer giant and Costa Rica at the Saint Petersburg Stadium did not yield a goal at the end of first half.

The Video Assisted Referee [VAR] system was even used to overturn a Brazil penalty.

Gabriel Jesus would later hit the bar as Brazil begin second half quickly, yet to no avail.

Brazil dominated possession, while Costa Rica proved dangerous on the counter-attacks.

It was a tactical game with some touches of ‘Jogo Bonito’ from both teams at times.

Costa Rica defended well and had several individual success stories.

But Brazil are Brazil – they never stop attacking. And despite giving a great performance, Los Ticos fell to a painful defeat.

Tears flowed at full-time from Neymar.

It has been an emotional match for the Brazil talisman and has been capped by the latest goal in regulation time the World Cup has ever seen.

That goal was Neymar’s 56th for Brazil, taking him past 1994 hero Romario in his country’s list of all-time leading scorers.

It was an explosion of joy in Saint Petersburg for the Brazilians.

After a second half of complete dominance, Brazil finally move ahead thanks to a very opportunistic goal by Philippe Coutinho. A striker’s finish from the midfielder.

The image of Neymar crying on the pitch said it  all.

The tournament had been a struggle for Brazil’s star man.

After 45 minutes of unrelenting pressure, they got their reward and can now take a deep breath.

The latest win makes it 24 games without a 0-0 at Russia 2018 World Cup.

aFTER LOSING TWO CONSECUTIVE MATCHES

HOW THEY STAND

For Diaspora Digital Media Updates click on Whatsapp, or Telegram. For eyewitness accounts/ reports/ articles, write to: citizenreports@diasporadigitalmedia.com. Follow us on X (Fomerly Twitter) or Facebook