Group C: Brazil into knockouts with 3-0 win over Scotland, Morocco join them after 4-2 comback win against Haiti

Vinicius fires Brazil into World Cup knockouts with 3-0 win over Scotland Brazil sambaed their way into the World Cup knockout stages with a commanding 3-0 win over Scotland on Wednesday, as Vinicius Jr netted twice and Neymar made his first appearance in a Brazil shirt in nearly three years. Vinicius’s double at a packed Miami Stadium helped Carlo Ancelotti’s side top Group C with seven points, while 64,478 fans witnessed the emotional return of Brazil’s prodigal son Neymar, who had not donned the famous yellow jersey since October 2023. Vinicius has scored in every game so far and the 25-year-old has four goals in the tournament to find himself in elite company, going level with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland while he sits one goal behind Lionel Messi. “We played well, it was much like the match against Haiti (a 3-0 win). It was a more complete performance and we’re pleased,” Ancelotti said. “Now comes the best bit… There were lots of positives, we didn’t concede a goal. Neymar’s introduction is important and could help us a great deal.” BRAZIL SCORE INSIDE SEVEN MINUTES Scotland boss Steve Clarke had predicted Brazil would attack from the outset and the South Americans needed seven minutes to prove him right and go 1-0 up when Scott McKenna failed to clear the ball, allowing Rayan to nick it and find Vinicius unmarked. As goalkeeper Angus Gunn scrambled to stop him, the Real Madrid forward simply took one touch to move the ball past him and tap it into an empty net as the fans in yellow erupted. Brazil nearly made it 2-0 before the first hydration break when Vinicius nicked the ball off Jack Hendry to score, but Scotland earned a reprieve after a VAR check and the goal was overturned for a foul by the Brazilian. That remained the theme in the first half, with Brazil being more combative while Scotland failed to capitalise on set-pieces as they finished the half with no shots on target. Brazil twisted the knife on the stroke of halftime, winning the ball high up the pitch before Bruno Guimaraes crossed to the far post, where a grateful Vinicius headed home his second. The two-goal cushion unleashed Brazil’s full repertoire of tricks as they sliced through Scotland’s midfield with flicks and one-touch passes that left Clarke’s side looking relieved when the halftime whistle blew. CUNHA SCORES HIS THIRD AT WORLD CUP Brazil pressed for a third goal and it came with another scything move through the midfield as Guimaraes grabbed his second assist, dancing into the box before setting up Matheus Cunha for his third goal of the tournament. “It’s a dream come true. The first match was tough, the second was better, and now it’s even better,” Cunha said. “I believe we’re improving and we’re going all out to achieve our goal – to win our sixth title.” Scotland finally tested Alisson for the first time in the 64th minute when the goalkeeper parried a header but a roar of approval from the Tartan Army was quickly drowned out by the Brazilian fans singing in unison. But the biggest cheer of the night was reserved for Neymar as Ancelotti brought on the 34-year-old who looked to combine with Vinicius, creating three chances in 13 minutes. Scotland’s attacking efforts remained toothless and Alisson remained a rock in goal, denying them one last chance in the dying minutes as Brazil kept a clean sheet. “We gave them the goals, we gave them the game we wanted. We’re disappointed,” Clarke said. The result leaves Scotland waiting to see if they can qualify as one of the best third-placed sides with three points but a damaging goal difference of minus-three. Morocco earn comeback win over Haiti to reach last 32 as group runners-up Morocco confirmed their progress to the World Cup last 32 but twice had to come from behind to get the better of plucky Haiti with a 4-2 win in an action-packed game on Wednesday and fell short of topping Brazil in the Group C standings. Morocco finished level on seven points with the five-times world champions, who beat Scotland 3-0, but are runners-up on goal difference and will play the Group F winners, Netherlands,Japan or Sweden, on Monday in the first knockout round. Haiti, the first side eliminated from the 48-team tournament after losing their second group game, went ahead early thanks to an own goal, but African Footballer of the Year Achraf Hakimi equalised in the 39th minute. Wilson Isidor’s thunderbolt restored Haiti’s lead in the 43rd but the match was soon level again as Ismael Saibari scored his third goal in as many World Cup appearances. It took until the 78th minute for Morocco to take the lead when substitute Soufiane Rahimi thrashed the ball home from close range after Haiti failed to clear a corner and 20-year-old Gessime Yassine made it 4-2 in the last minute. “It was a crazy game, too many goals but we are really delighted to qualify for the next round and now we have to keep going,” said Hakimi. “Haiti were already out of the competition but showed great spirit and made us suffer but in the end we did it.” Haiti had only pride to play for but made Morocco work for their victory and despite losing all three games at the tournament — their first in 52 years — will depart with their reputation enhanced. “We were up against a quality team and I hope we gave our fans something to relish,” said Haiti coach Sebastien Migne. “We have to keep working hard to come back again four years from now.” VOCIFEROUS SUPPORT With vociferous support willing them forward, Haiti opened the scoring after 10 minutes as Josue Casimir calmly shielded the ball, waiting for Jean-Kevin Duverne to support him on the wing and carry it into the box before a square pass was audaciously backheeled goalwards by Lenny Joseph. FIFA initially awarded the goal to the Haiti striker even though his effort looked to be going wide, deflecting in off the back of Morocco goalkeeper Yacine Bounou, but it was later changed to become yet another own goal in this tournament. Haiti’s 38-year-old goalkeeper Johny Placide, playing his last international after 15 years in the national team, produced a series of sharp saves to twice deny Ayoub El Kaabi and Hakimi. But when he parried Bilal El Khannouss’s cross, Hakimi was quickest to bundle it over the line for the equaliser. Duverne set up Isidor for his rasping strike from outside the area to put Haiti ahead again. Morocco’s response was much quicker the second time, with Sofyan Amrabat setting Hakimi off down the right flank and the captain dragging the ball back for Saibari to slot home and leave the teams deadlocked at 2-2 by halftime. VEHEMENT PROTESTS Haiti’s defence was eventually breached again late in the second half from a set-piece although they protested vehemently for a foul after Rahimi had controlled the ball before turning and slamming home. Rahimi then set up the baby-faced Yassine for a tap-in after Haiti’s defenders stopped playing, believing the ball had gone out of play, but VAR confirmed the goal. “We’d have loved to top our group but I don’t think we played well enough to do so,” said Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi. “We had to go all out in the second half and had so many chances to score.”