Matheus Cunha scored twice as a first half masterclass saw Brazil storm past Haiti 3-0 in their FIFA World Cup Group C campaign and close in on a spot in the last 32.
After a much-criticised display in their opening 1-1 draw with Morocco, the five-time world champions underlined the gulf in class with outsiders Haiti, who became the first country to exit this FIFA World Cup.
Aggrieved at not coming away with a point from their 1-0 loss to Scotland last week, Haiti head coach Sebastien Migne urged his players to embrace the opportunity to play Brazil at a FIFA World Cup.
With 77 places separating the nations in the FIFA World Ranking, Brazil quickly took control and thought they had scored when Raphinha fired home, only for the Barcelona winger to be flagged offside.
It was a sign of what was to come though and Brazil broke the deadlock on 23 minutes.
Cunha sparked the move by winning possession in midfield and, after Vinicius’s shot was parried, he reacted quickest to block Hannes Delcroix’s clearance to send the ball trickling into the net.
Vinicius and Cunha combined again to double the lead, the former slipping his teammate in behind the Haiti defence to blast in a powerful left-footed shot as he fell to the ground.
Brazil lost Raphinha to injury but scored a third before half-time as Vinicius Junior ran onto Lucas Paqueta’s floated pass and steered through the legs of Johny Placide.
Haiti almost bagged their first FIFA World Cup goal in 52 years when Ricardo Ade’s glancing header at a corner forced Alisson Becker into a sharp stop, but it was a rare moment of hope.
The introduction of 19-year-old Endrick as Ancelotti turned to his bench triggered huge cheers from Brazil supporters, who nearly had another goal to celebrate when substitute Gabriel Martinelli rattled the crossbar.
Haiti refused to go down without a fight as Alisson made two late saves to preserve Brazil’s first clean sheet in seven outings, turning the page on an underwhelming start to the competition.
Brazil play Scotland in their final Group C game in Miami on Wednesday while Haiti’s first FIFA World Cup appearance since 1974 will end after they play Morocco in Atlanta.
