Two late goals from Philippe Coutinho and Neymar spared Brazil as they beat Costa Rica 2-0 in the World Cup on Friday.
Roma’s Alisson kept goal for Brazil again, but Juventus winger Douglas Costa was only a substitute for the second game running, while Bologna stopper Giancarlo Gonzalez was at the heart of Costa Rica’s defence.
Two late goals from Philippe Coutinho and Neymar spared Brazil as they beat Costa Rica 2-0 in the World Cup on Friday.
Roma’s Alisson kept goal for Brazil again, but Juventus winger Douglas Costa was only a substitute for the second game running, while Bologna stopper Giancarlo Gonzalez was at the heart of Costa Rica’s defence.
The five-time world champions dominated possession and managed 10 shots on target, compared to Los Ticos’ 28 percent of the ball and failure to test Alisson at all as Celso Borges was left to rue dragging a gilt-edged chance wide.
VAR also proved once more that it was a force for good when it revoked a penalty on Neymar, adjudging the Paris Saint-Germain star to have gone down too easily from a slight pull on his shirt.
It was left to Coutinho to upstage his superstar teammate like he did in Brazil’s opener against Switzerland, firing home a knock-down from ex-Liverpool teammate Roberto Firmino in the box.
And in the seventh minute of injury time, Neymar punished Costa Rica for a misplaced pass, flicking into an empty net from a cross to move the Selecao top of Group E.
Brazil 2-0 Costa Rica
Coutinho 90, Neymar 90
Brazil: Alisson; Fagner, Thiago Silva, Miranda, Marcelo; Paulinho (Firmino 68), Casemiro, Coutinho; Willian (Douglas Costa 46), Gabriel Jesus (Fernandinho 90), Neymar
Costa Rica: Keylor; Acosta, Gonzalez, Duarte; Gamboa (Calvo 75), Borges, Guzman (Tejeda 83), Ruiz; Urena (Bolanos 54)
Referee: Kuipers