Brazil 4-1 Uruguay: Leeds star Raphinha scores his first goals for his country as he grabs a brace in thumping World Cup qualifying win, with Neymar also on target
- Raphinha continued his electric start to his Brazil career with his first goals
- The Leeds winger scored twice and provided an assist as Brazil blitzed Uruguay
- Neymar and Gabriel Barbosa completed the scoring for table-topping Brazil
- Luis Suarez scored a consolation goal for Uruguay, who sit fifth, with a free-kick
Raphinha turned in another eye-catching performance for Brazil on Thursday by scoring twice in the home side’s 4-1 victory over Uruguay in a World Cup qualifier.
Brazil took the lead after 10 minutes when Neymar chested down a pass from Fred and rounded the keeper before firing low between two defenders on the goal-line.
Raphinha made it 2-0 after 18 minutes when he bundled home a parried shot from close range and then made it 3-0 after 58 minutes, completing a superb counter-attack with an angled shot.
Raphinha (right) scored his first international goals for Brazil as they thumped Uruguay 4-1
The Leeds winger opened his account for his country with this close-range strike on 18 minutes
He scored his second of the night, and Brazil’s third, with this finish after a swift counter-attack
Luis Suarez scored a consolation goal for Uruguay with a 77th-minute free-kick before Gabriel Barbosa restored Brazil’s three-goal cushion with a header seven minutes from time.
‘This couldn’t be more memorable for me,’ Raphinha said. ‘This is me fulfilling my childhood dream. It’s so gratifying to score.
‘It’s going to be very difficult to forget this night.’
Both Neymar and Raphinha could have scored more, with Uruguayan keeper Fernando Muslera thwarting both in quick succession early in the second half.
Neymar opened the scoring for Brazil when he rounded the goalkeeper before finishing
Gabriel Barbosa completed the scoreline for Brazil with a header seven minutes from time.
It was a measure of Brazil’s superiority that Muslera was Uruguay’s best player on a poor night for the visitors, who have now won only two of their last nine qualifiers.
Brazil are now six points clear in the South American qualifying group, ahead of second-placed Argentina who beat Peru 1-0 on Thursday.
The top four qualify automatically for Qatar 2022 and the fifth-placed side goes into an inter-regional play-off.
Luis Suarez gave Uruguay some hope to make the score 3-1 with this free-kick but it was in vain
Advertisement
