Brazil took control of their destiny with a 3-0 win over Haiti that ended the Caribbean nation’s chances of reaching the World Cup last 32.
Two goals from Manchester United striker Matheus Cunha and a Vinicius Junior strike sealed a comfortable win for the Brazilians in a one-sided game at Philadelphia’s Lincoln Financial Field.
The result ensured Haiti will finish bottom of Group C and are the first team to be eliminated from contention for a place in the knockout rounds.
Brazil’s victory though was marred by an apparent injury to star forward Raphinha, who left the game in the 40th minute after an innocuous-looking tussle with Haiti defender Martin Experience.
Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti was unable to provide an update on Raphinha’s injury afterwards, instead preferring to praise his team’s “complete” performance.
“It was a complete match, much better in the first half,” Ancelotti said. “It was what we expected from this game: better quality, fewer mistakes, more effectiveness in attack and more control at the back.”
Brazil are now level on four points with Morocco in Group C, but lead the North Africans on goal difference.
Morocco secured their first win of the tournament on Friday with a 1-0 defeat of Scotland at Foxborough, Massachusetts.
Ismael Saibari scored the games’s only goal, lashing home a thunderous angled strike in the second minute to leave the Scots reeling.
Morocco will face Haiti in their final Group C game on June 24, while Brazil take on the Scots in Miami.
“Tonight we showed we can compete with the teams in the top 10. Brazil will be a different game, they play with less structure but they have quality that can hurt you at any point,” Scotland’s John McGinn said.
“We will need to be at our best. We know what we need to do to try to get through to the next round.”
