Vinícius nets brace as Brazil advances to World Cup knockouts with 3-0 win over Scotland

Brazil advanced to the knockout stages of the World Cup in convincing fashion, defeating Scotland 3-0 in their final Group C fixture. The victory, played out before a capacity crowd of 64,478 fans at Miami Stadium, saw Brazil finish at the top of their group with seven points.

Vinícius Júnior was the star of the match, netting two goals to bring his tournament tally to four. The 25-year-old forward is now level with Kylian Mbappé and Erling Haaland in the competition's scoring charts, trailing only Lionel Messi. His first goal came in the seventh minute after Scott McKenna's defensive error, allowing Vinícius to easily tap the ball into an open net. Although a second early goal was overturned by VAR for a foul, Vinícius later scored his second just before halftime.

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Scotland boss Steve Clarke said he expected Brazil to attack from the outset and the South Americans needed seven minutes to go 1-0 up when Scott McKenna failed to clear the ball, allowing Rayan to nick it and find Vinicius unmarked.

The match also marked a significant moment for Neymar, who made his first appearance for the Brazilian national team in three years, coming on as a substitute in the second half. The crowd erupted in cheers for the veteran player, who has been sidelined with injuries. Brazil extended their lead in the second half when Matheus Cunha scored their third goal, assisted by Bruno Guimarães, who also provided the assist for Vinícius's second goal.

Scotland struggled to create clear scoring opportunities throughout the match, with their only chances coming from set-pieces, none of which they converted. Brazilian goalkeeper Alisson remained largely untroubled, making a crucial save in the final minutes to preserve Brazil's clean sheet. The win ensures Brazil's progression in the tournament, while Scotland was eliminated.

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But the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Neymar as Ancelotti brought the 34-year-old on for his first appearance in a Brazil shirt since October 2023.