Vinícius Júnior scored two goals, Matheus Cunha also scored and five-time World Cup champion Brazil beat Scotland 3-0 on Wednesday, advancing to the knockout stage as the Group C winner.
Vinícius — who has a goal in all three of Brazil’s group matches — scored in the seventh minute and again just before halftime, tying Norway’s Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappé of France with four goals, one behind Lionel Messi of Argentina.
Brazil reached the knockout rounds for the 15th consecutive World Cup. Morocco finished second in the group and also advanced, rallying to beat Haiti 4-2.
Neymar entered as a substitute in the 76th, making his debut after a right calf injury sidelined him for Brazil’s first two matches. The majority-Brazilian crowd at Hard Rock Stadium began chanting his name midway through the second half as he got off the bench and began doing warmup sprints on the sideline — and fans roared as he trotted onto the pitch.
Neymar is Brazil’s career scoring leader with 79 goals in 130 international appearances. The 34-year-old forward appeared in each of the past three World Cups for Brazil, scoring eight goals.
Scotland’s loss will be keenly felt by their fans as the country plays in its first World Cup since 1998.
Scotland has also become the unofficial second team for many Americans, as the Tartan Army made its mark in Boston and Miami with scenes of alcohol-fueled fun at baseball games and elsewhere across the cities.
Scotland coach Steve Clarke said he feared the team would now face elimination, with its hopes of earning a spot in the knockouts as a 3rd-place finisher now hanging by a thread.
But the party might not be over yet.
The eight qualifiers who don’t come from one of the top two spots in the 12 groups are decided by points and then goal difference if they are level.
Scotland is currently sitting on 3 points and a goal difference of -3 after finishing their group stage matches.
With nine groups still left to conclude, Scotland and its fans face a long wait.
The country hasn’t advanced past the group stage in nine tries, but for now at least the dream is still alive.
