SOCCER: Vinicius fires Brazil into World Cup knockouts with 3-0 win over Scotland

MIAMI — Brazil cruised into the FIFA World Cup knockout stage with a dominant 3-0 victory over Scotland on Wednesday, powered by a brace from Vinicius Jr. and the long-awaited return of Neymar.

The win secured top spot in Group C for Brazil with seven points, while a crowd of 64,478 at Miami Stadium witnessed Neymar’s first appearance for the national team since October 2023.

Vinicius continued his impressive form, scoring in his third consecutive match of the tournament. The 25-year-old now has four goals, drawing level with Kylian Mbappe and Erling Haaland and sitting just one goal behind Lionel Messi in the scoring charts.

“We played well, much like we did against Haiti,” Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti said. “It was a more complete performance, and we’re pleased with the result. There were many positives, including keeping a clean sheet. Neymar’s return is important and could help us a great deal.”

Brazil wasted little time asserting control. Just seven minutes into the match, Scott McKenna failed to clear the ball, allowing Rayan to seize possession and find Vinicius unmarked in the box. The Real Madrid forward calmly rounded goalkeeper Angus Gunn and slotted the ball into an empty net to give Brazil an early lead.

Vinicius thought he had doubled Brazil’s advantage before the first hydration break after capitalizing on a mistake by Jack Hendry, but the goal was ruled out following a VAR review that determined a foul had occurred in the buildup.

Scotland struggled to create opportunities throughout the first half and failed to register a shot on target. Brazil eventually doubled its lead just before halftime when Bruno Guimaraes delivered a cross to the far post, where Vinicius headed home his second goal of the night.

The two-goal advantage allowed Brazil to play with confidence, showcasing quick passing and creative movement that repeatedly exposed Scotland’s defense.

Brazil continued to press after the break and added a third goal through Matheus Cunha. Guimaraes collected his second assist of the match after driving into the penalty area and setting up Cunha, who scored his third goal of the tournament.

“It’s a dream come true,” Cunha said. “The first match was tough, the second was better, and now it’s even better. We’re improving and doing everything we can to achieve our goal of winning a sixth World Cup title.”

Scotland finally tested goalkeeper Alisson in the 64th minute, but Brazil remained firmly in control.

The loudest cheer of the evening came when Neymar entered the match. The 34-year-old forward immediately made an impact, combining effectively with Vinicius and helping create several scoring opportunities during his brief appearance.

Scotland’s attack remained ineffective, and Alisson preserved the clean sheet with another key save in the closing minutes.

“We gave them the goals and the game they wanted,” Scotland manager Steve Clarke said. “We’re disappointed.”

The defeat leaves Scotland waiting to see whether it can advance as one of the tournament’s best third-place teams. The Scots finish the group stage with three points and a goal difference of minus-three.

Brazil, meanwhile, advances to the knockout rounds with growing momentum and the added boost of Neymar’s return. -Reporting by Rohith Nair in Miami;Editing by Christian Radnedge/Reuters