Brazil on Wednesday punished Scotland’s defensive frailties to advance to the FIFA World Cup’s last 32 as South Africa, Canada and Bosnia-Herzegovina completed a historic hat-trick by progressing to the knockout rounds for the first time.
Five-time World Cup champions Brazil clinched first place in Group C after defeating Scotland 3-0 in Miami, topping the group on goal difference from second-placed Morocco, who secured their passage after battling to a 4-2 win over Haiti in Atlanta.
South Africa stunned South Korea 1-0 in Monterrey to grab second place in Group A and set up a last-32 clash with Canada, who also made history by advancing in second place from Group B.
Photo: Reuters
However, Brazil’s victory at the Hard Rock Stadium left Scotland on the brink of elimination, dampening the mood among the traveling hordes of the Tartan Army.
The Scots were left ruing a shaky defensive display as Brazil cruised to a comfortable win. Vinicius Junior scored twice for Brazil, pouncing on a horrendous blunder by Scott McKenna to fire the South Americans ahead in the seventh minute.
The Real Madrid striker then nodded in Brazil’s second in first-half stoppage-time before Manchester United striker Matheus Cunha added a third in the 60th minute.
Photo: Reuters
Brazil’s win also saw coach Carlo Ancelotti give veteran striker Neymar his first appearance of the tournament, the Selecao’s all-time leading scorer coming on as a second-half substitute.
“We played as a collective and that’s a good thing,” a satisfied Ancelotti said afterwards. “There are many positive things, such as Neymar’s appearance, which can help us.”
The biggest surprise of the day came in Monterrey where South Africa — who began the tournament with an abject 2-0 loss to Mexico — snatched a dramatic 1-0 win over South Korea, who had been favored to progress.
Photo: Reuters
Thapelo Maseko’s 63rd-minute strike settled a cagey encounter as South Africa advanced after falling at the first hurdle in three previous trips to the World Cup.
“It’s very difficult to explain how it feels — it’s a fantastic experience,” South Africa coach Hugo Broos said. “We scored and then it was 20 minutes of heart beating and hoping the game should be finished as soon as possible.”
“I’m very proud of the performance of my team and I think we gave an answer to all those big mouths of the last weeks that thought that we had to change something,” he said.
Photo: Reuters
South Africa are to face World Cup cohosts Canada in Los Angeles on Sunday in the opening game of the knockout rounds.
The Canadians qualified for the second round for the first time in history as runners-up in Group B despite a 2-1 loss to Switzerland in Vancouver earlier on Wednesday.
Canada claimed second place in Group B on goal difference ahead of third-placed Bosnia-Herzegovina, 3-1 winners over Qatar.
Photo: AFP
Bosnia were celebrating later on Wednesday when FIFA confirmed they had qualified as one of the best of the eight third-placed teams, their four-point haul proving enough to send them through into the knockout stages for the first time.
In the day’s other game, Mexico — who had already secured top spot in Group A with two opening wins — completed their first round with a 100 percent record after romping past the Czech Republic 3-0 in the Estadio Azteca.
Mexico move on to a last-32 match in the same stadium on Tuesday next week while the Czechs return home after finishing bottom of the group.
Mateo Chavez gave Mexico the lead in the 55th minute, and Julian Quinones took advantage of disarray in the Czech defense six minutes later to extend the lead.
Alvaro Fidalgo completed a sparkling evening for the Mexicans as he smashed in a cross four minutes into added time.
Mexico even brought on celebrated goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa as a second-half substitute, allowing the veteran to play in a sixth World Cup at the age of 40.
Supporters shouted “Memo” — Ochoa’s nickname — before the starting lineups were announced in the stadium ahead of the match. Cries for “O-cho-a” reverberated through the Azteca in the 73rd minute.
Head coach Javier Aguirre satisfied the crowd, and the nation, by bringing in the veteran to thunderous applause in a match that likely marks his farewell to El Tri.
“It’s the most beautiful thing that they recognize your effort,” Ochoa said of the fans after the match. “I always try to do it for them, to leave a mark. I think that today was a perfect closing.”
The setting for his farewell could not have been better than at the Azteca, where he made his professional debut with Club America in 2004.
“I felt the affection in the stadium where I was born, the stadium where I grew up,” Ochoa said. “It came to me when I was in the stands and I said: ‘I want to be on the field and I want to play here in this stadium.’”
Additional reporting by AP
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