(Filepic by Tasnim News Aency)
Brazil top Group C with a brace from Vinicius Junior while Morocco stave off Haiti in the FIFA World Cup football championships.
Vinicius Junior made it four goals in three games as Brazil cruised to a 3-0 victory over Scotland sealing progress to the last 32 as Group C winners and leaving their opponents in danger of another first-round exit.
Morocco twice overcame the shock of conceding to Haiti to win a thriller 4-2 in Atlanta and missed out on top spot in Group C to Brazil on goal difference.
Real Madrid superstar Vinicius took advantage of a defensive howler to give Brazil an early lead in Miami and headed in another in first-half stoppage time.
Scotland were never really in it and Matheus Cunha got a third on the hour mark for the record five-time FIFA World Cup winners, who brought on Neymar towards the end for his first international appearance in over two-and-a-half years.
There are doubts as to whether Carlo Ancelotti’s side are genuine contenders to win this tournament but boosted by finishing top of the group they head to Texas for a last-32 tie in Houston on Monday.
That will be against the runners-up in Group F, which will be either the Netherlands, Japan or Sweden.
After scoring in both the opening 1-1 draw with Morocco and the 3-0 win over Haiti, Vinicius is the first Brazilian to find the net in every group game at a FIFA World Cup since Ronaldo and Rivaldo both did it in 2002.
With four goals, he is one behind Lionel Messi and level with Erling Haaland and Kylian Mbappe in the golden boot race.
Steve Clarke’s Scotland could not recover from conceding inside two minutes in their last outing against Morocco, and they only had themselves to blame as they once again fell behind early.
It was a very soft goal to concede and a nightmare for Scott McKenna, who had been brought into the defence in place of Grant Hanley.
McKenna was too casual in possession in his own box in the seventh minute and was closed down by Rayan.
Starting in place of the injured Raphinha, the young Bournemouth forward gave it to Vinicius and he rounded Angus Gunn to score.
Scotland were very lucky not to concede again in similar circumstances midway through the first half as Jack Hendry was closed down by Vinicius who went on to slot in.
This time, however, the goal was overturned following a VAR check by the Mexican referee, who could see that Vinicius had clipped the leg of Hendry on his way through.
But it was only a matter of time before Brazil scored again, and Vinicius headed in with the game in stoppage time at the end of the first half.
Once more Scotland were punished for slack play at the back with an Andy Robertson pass being intercepted inside his own area before Bruno Guimaraes crossed for the goal.
Scotland looked at risk of completely collapsing as Gunn had to save from Rayan just before the half-time whistle, and the goalkeeper then denied Vinicius his hat-trick soon after the restart.
Instead it was Manchester United’s Cunha who got the third – his third of the tournament – from a Guimaraes lay-off, and Brazil could have won by more.
A consolation goal for Scotland might have been significant in their quest to reach the next round, but Alisson twice denied Scott McTominay.
Neymar, Brazil’s all-time top goal-scorer, came on for Cunha in the 76th minute to huge cheers, making his comeback after being absent from the Selecao since October 2023.
This was Brazil’s fourth win in five FIFA World Cup meetings with Scotland, the exception being a goalless draw in 1974.
Haiti score their first Cup goals in loss
Haiti bowed out with their first FIFA World Cup goals for 52 years as a Yassine Bounou own goal and Wilson Isidor’s stunning strike twice gave them the lead.
Achraf Hakimi and Ismael Saibari, with his third goal in as many games at the FIFA World Cup, levelled before half-time. Soufiane Rahimi was nearly brought to tears when the 30-year-old’s deflected effort found the top corner to give Morocco the lead before Gessime Yassine rounded off the scoring.
Despite bowing out without a point, Haiti’s performances at a first FIFA World Cup since 1974 have done the nation proud.
Haiti were already eliminated after losing to Scotland and Brazil, but the thousands of Haitian expats in the stands at Atlanta were undeterred as every attack was met with deafening cheers.
Morocco boss Mohamed Ouahbi made four changes to the side that had impressed in holding Brazil and beating Scotland in their opening two games and the Atlas Lions started sloppily.
Haiti’s long wait for a goal on the global stage was ended after just 10 minutes when Jean-Kevin Duverne got the by-line and Lenny Joseph flicked his cross into the net via a deflection off Bounou.
Hakimi has continued to captain Morocco despite learning mid-tournament that he is to face a trial on rape charges in France.
The reigning African footballer of the year stormed forward from right-back at every opportunity and was in the right place to equalise on 39 minutes.
In his final game for Haiti, 38-year-old goalkeeper Jonny Placide could only parry Bilal El Khannouss’ strike and Hakimi had a simple task to force the ball over the line.
Within four minutes, though, Haiti had restored their lead in far more spectacular fashion.
Sunderland striker Isidor pounced on a loose ball and let fly from outside the area with a shot that arrowed into the top corner.
Hakimi and Ouahbi were visibly angered by conceding for a second time, but the 2022 FIFA World Cup semi-finalists responded before half-time.
Saibari stroked home his third goal of the tournament with a cool finish from Hakimi’s low cross.
Brahim Diaz nearly even gave Morocco a half-time lead when his curling effort shaved the post to end a thrilling first half.
With Brazil cruising to victory over Scotland in Miami, Morocco knew only a comprehensive victory would secure them top spot in Group C.
Ouahbi began turning his attention to the last 32 as Bayern Munich-bound Saibari and Real Madrid’s Diaz were replaced with over 20 minutes remaining.
But two of his substitutes came on to win the game for Morocco.
Rahimi’s powerful strike from a corner flew into the top corner via a deflection off a desperate Haiti defender.
He then turned provider by robbing possession on the Haiti by-line and crossing for Yassine to roll into an empty net.
But Morocco missed out on top spot in the group to Brazil on goal difference, meaning they will head to Monterrey for a likely meeting against the Netherlands or Japan on Monday.
