Brazil scored four first-half goals to run away with a 4–1 win over South Korea in the round of 16 as it looks to claim a sixth World Cup title.
Goals from Vinícius Júnior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paquetá sent Brazil into the lead in this lopsided affair that left fans across the sport marveling at Brazil’s brilliance. Next up, Brazil will face off with Croatia in the quarterfinals after the 2018 runner-up survived a penalty-kick shootout vs. Japan.
After entering the tournament as the favorite, Brazil secured the group with wins against Serbia and Switzerland, before its second team was upended by Cameroon in second-half stoppage time of its group finale. The side welcomed Neymar back to the starting XI after the PSG superstar suffered an ankle injury in the opening match that ruled him out of the rest of the group stage.
South Korea, meanwhile, emerged as a surprise out of Group H after drawing with Uruguay in the group opener, losing to Ghana and defeating Portugal. But from early on, it stood no chance against Brazil.
Brazil didn’t have to wait long at all to take the lead with Vinícius earning the lead in the seventh minute. After Raphinha sent a low cross into the box that Richarlison missed, the ball fell right to Vinícius as the Real Madrid star took his time and curled the effort into the net.
Brazil then jumped out to a quick 2–0 lead in the 13th minute thanks to a Neymar penalty. After Richarlison was taken down in the box, Neymar stepped to the spot—albeit, extremely slowly—and easily put the chance away for his eighth career World Cup goal. He joins Pelé and Ronaldo as the only Brazilian men to score in three World Cups.
But Hwang nearly cut into the Brazil lead with a stunning shot from distance that looked set for the top corner before Alisson pushed the shot over the bar.
Brazil added a third in the 29th minute on a gorgeous team sequence that ended with Richarlison. After juggling the ball on his head, Richarlison passed the ball off to Marquinhos, who then found Thiago Silva. The Chelsea defender then slipped the ball back to Richarlison for a smooth finish as the forward even engaged in a dance with manager Tite on the touchline.
Brazil looked unstoppable throughout and continued adding to its highlight reel with a fourth goal. In the 36th minute, Vinícius sent a cross into the box that found a streaking Lucas Paquetá as the West Ham midfielder tucked the chance away for the goal.
Both Lucas Paquetá and Richarlison had golden opportunities in first-half stoppage time to add a fifth goal to South Korea’s misery but narrowly missed in front of goal.
South Korea came out of the halftime break with its best chance yet as Son Heung-min curled a goal-bound chance that was just saved by Alisson in the 48th minute.
Kim Seung-gyu came up with a big save in the 62nd minute when he pushed Raphinha’s chance just wide after a perfect pass from Neymar.
South Korea was able to manage a consolation goal in the 76th minute thanks to a marvelous strike from Paik Seung-ho. The midfielder took down a headed clearance outside of the penalty area and rifled a half-volley that swerved through the defense and past Allison to make it 4–1 in favor of Brazil.
At the end of the match, Neymar brought a banner out onto the pitch to honor Pelé after news emerged that the Brazilian legend has reportedly been moved to end-of-life care.
Here were the lineups for both sides:
Full World Cup squads
Brazil
GOALKEEPERS: Alisson (Liverpool), Ederson (Manchester City), Weverton (Palmeiras)
DEFENDERS: Dani Alves (Pumas), Bremer (Juventus), Danilo (Juventus), Marquinhos (PSG), Éder Militão (Real Madrid), Alex Sandro (Juventus), Thiago Silva (Chelsea), Alex Telles (Sevilla)
MIDFIELDERS: Casemiro (Manchester United), Fabinho (Liverpool), Fred (Manchester United), Bruno Guimarães (Newcastle), Lucas Paquetá (West Ham), Éverton Ribeiro (Flamengo)
FORWARDS: Antony (Manchester United), Gabriel Jesus (Arsenal), Gabriel Martinelli (Arsenal), Neymar (PSG), Pedro (Flamengo), Raphinha (Barcelona), Richarlison (Tottenham), Rodrygo (Real Madrid), Vinícius Júnior (Real Madrid)
COACH: Tite
South Korea
GOALKEEPERS: Jo Hyeon-woo (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Seung-gyu (Al Shabab), Song Bum-keun (Jeonbuk Motors)
DEFENDERS: Cho Yu-min (Daejon Citizen), Hong Chul (Daegu FC), Kim Jin-su (Jeonbuk Motors), Kim Min-jae (Napoli), Kim Moon-hwan (Jeonbuk Motors), Kim Tae-hwan (Ulsan Hyundai), Kim Young-gwon (Ulsan Hyundai), Kwon Kyung-won (Gamba Osaka), Yoon Jong-gyu (FC Seoul)
MIDFIELDERS: Hwang In-beom (Olympiacos), Jung Woo-young (Al Sadd), Kwon Chang-hoon (Gimcheon Sangmu), Lee Jae-sung (Mainz), Lee Kang-in (Mallorca), Paik Seung-ho (Jeonbuk Motors), Son Jun-ho (Shandong Taishan)
FORWARDS: Cho Gue-sung (Jeonbuk Motors), Hwang Hee-chan (Wolverhampton Wanderers), Hwang Ui-jo (Olympiacos), Jeong Woo-yeong (Freiburg), Na Sang-ho (FC Seoul), Son Heung-min (Tottenham), Song Min-kyu (Jeonbuk Motors)
