Brazil put on an impressive display of attacking football to crush South Korea 4-1 in the Round of 16 World Cup clash on Tuesday, with a mouth-watering clash against 2018 finalists Croatia awaiting them in the last eight.
Brazil took an early lead when Vinicius calmly scored past a horde of South Korean defenders in the seventh minute after receiving a cross from Raphinha. Soon after, Richarlison was brought down by a clumsy kick from Jung Woo-young, and French referee Clement Turpin pointed to the spot. And Neymar converted the penalty in the 13th minute.
Richarlison made it 3-0 for Brazil in the 29th minute after receiving a pass from Thiago Silva that split the defence, and Paqueta added a fourth goal seven minutes later after arriving in the box just in time to volley home a Vinicius cross.
After Lucas Paqueta’s fourth-minute volley, the five-time champions played the second half as an exhibition, with only impressive Korean goalkeeper Kim Seung-gyu keeping them out as they prepared for Friday’s quarter-final meeting with Croatia.
Korea worked tirelessly and bravely to contain the damage, and they were rewarded for their own offensive efforts. Paik Seung-ho smashed in a brilliant long-range shot beyond Alisson 13 minutes from time. This was Seung-Ho’s his first-ever competitive goal for South Korea in the second half.