Key events
Summary
Jonathan Howcroft
Thank you for joining me this evening. Another round of matches down, the pathway to the round of 32 becoming clearer, and still question marks over where Brazil are at. I’ll see you back here again shortly.
Updated at 23.05 EDT
There is one fixture still to go on this matchday: Turkey v Paraguay, a battle between the two opening round losers in Group D. You can follow all of the action with Sam Lewis here:
Have a play around with Bracketology to see what today’s results have done to the likely knockout stages. I have Brazil topping the group – just – which puts them in the England/Mexico quarter of the draw, and Morocco on a collision course with France.
Brazil now travel down to Miami to take on Scotland in a match that will kick off at the same time as Morocco v Haiti in Atlanta. The final placings in Group C will be decided on 24 June at 6pm local time.
As against Scotland, Haiti were game, but their World Cup record now reads played five, lost five, and with Morocco to come their chances of breaking their duck this tournament appear slim. Bellegarde was a threat throughout, and the second half introduction of Joseph, Simon, and Etienne added more purpose.
A first-half injury to Raphinha will be the focus of Brazilian news reporters in the coming days. He was an early bright spark before having to come off. Elsewhere Cunha took his second goal well, Vinicius showed glimpses of his quality, and the centre-half pairing were dominant, but it is hard to see Ancelotti’s pattern of play, other than slow possession preceding dinked balls over the top for runners. That strategy has its merits, and led to the second and third goals, but also plenty of offsides and cheap turnovers.
Brazil’s World Cup campaign gathered some momentum tonight after the stodgy performance against Morocco, but they remain a shadow of the vintage Selecao sides of yore.
Matheus Cunha found the back of the net twice in the opening half, and Vinicus Jr made it two in two matches, after which Carlo Ancelotti’s side seemed more focussed on conserving energy and seeing out the clock than finding more goals. It is a decision that may come back to haunt them if goal difference is what separates them from Morocco at the top of Group C.
ShareFull-time: Brazil 3-0 Haiti
A reassuring victory for Brazil but far from a free-flowing performance against willing but limited opposition.
90+4 mins: It’s poor delivery, headed clear and Haiti break with intent. Etienne looks lively on the left, the ball is recycled into a central area and Simon lets fly from long range that forces Alisson into a Hollywood save.
90+3 mins: Endrick goes down under contact from Ade and Brazil wind the clock down before taking a free-kick midway in Haiti’s half.
90+1 mins: Brazil make a rare sortie down the left. Martinelli fizzes over a cross that Ederson looks like sliding in at the far post but the Atalanta-cum-Man Utd midfielder is just a fraction late to the party.
Ederson goes close! Photograph: Mike Segar/ReutersShare
Updated at 22.33 EDT
90 mins: Five minutes of added time on the fourth official’s board.
89 mins: Haiti again get some joy down the left with Etienne collecting a long ball. He cuts inside and finds the space diminish rapidly, as it has all night. Deedson joins the attack but he is blanketed.
88 mins: One of those blows almost lands but Alisson is out smartly to smother Isidor at his near post. It results in the concession of a corner but Brazil clear.
87 mins: Haiti are the team still trying to force the issue but Brazil are like a playground bully holding a smaller rival at arm’s length while they whirlwind their arms with ineffective haymakers.
86 mins: And again, the long ball is headed to a Haitian but Joseph can’t make anything of the second effort in a promising area.
84 mins: Haiti have looked tidy outside the Brazil box, but have lacked penetration trying to enter it. Marquinhos, Gabriel, and Casemiro have defended their danger zone smartly all night.
83 mins: There was never much sting in this match but whatever existed is ebbing away.
81 mins: Cue in the rack for Ancelotti. Off come Vinicius and Guimaraes. Ederson and Danilo Santos get to stretch their legs. A change for Haiti too with Etienne replacing Bellegarde.
80 mins: Haiti enjoy some possession on the left but as soon as they look infield there’s a lack of understanding between Isidor and Bellegarde and Brazil clear.
78 mins: Endrick thinks he’s scored and begins his Robin Hood celebration but he just strayed offside attempting to run in behind and collect Rayan’s throughball.
77 mins: Brazil execute a methodical sweeping counterattack that unstitches Haiti. Rayan is decisive, turning under pressure and forcing the ball on. It eventually reaches Douglas on the left corner of the box but he lashes over.
76 mins: Joseph makes Danilo look foolish with some skill on the left but after cutting inside the move breaks down.
Updated at 22.11 EDT
75 mins: Bellegarde has a decent crossing opportunity from a free-kick on the left but Brazil head it purposefully clear.
73 mins: He’s up again. Feel free to exhale Arsenal fans.
72 mins: Joseph has replaced Providence for Haiti, and Jean Jacques has gone into the book for following through on Martinelli. The Arsenal man has gone down clutching his right foot.
70 mins: It’s three quarter time at the Linc.
68 mins: Brazil maintain the pressure and Martinelli almost finishes a move of pure quality. Guimaraes pings the ball into Vinicius’ feet, the Real star nonchalantly controls and studd-rolls it backwards in one move, teeing up Martinelli to curl a right-footed shot against the bar from just inside the box. That was lovely to watch.
For any volleyballers out there, it was like a setter executing a short reverse set for a hitter coming in close on the burst.
67 mins: Guimaraes with a free kick around 30m out to the left of the box. He chips it over for Casemiro to nod across the penalty area but the next touch is from a Haitain.
66 mins: Two of Brazil’s front three are now teenagers. Endrick and Rayan have plenty of time to show their worth.
65 mins: Duverne sweeps a snapshot wide of the post with the second ball following a free-kick on the right that earned Douglas a yellow card.
64 mins: Close! The corner is a beauty, ripping with topspin to the nearpost where Ade times his jump and flick superbly, drawing a reflex save from Alisson and an acrobatic clearance from Gabriel.
Time for a couple of Brazilian subs now with Paqueta and Cunha making way for Endrick and Martinelli. The crowd are delighted the young Real Madrid loanee is on. He is a fan favourite back home.
63 mins: First a Haiti sub. Deedson for Casimir.
62 mins: Rayan looks promising cutting in off the right with intent, but the link-up play breaks down and Haiti clear. Providence shows some nible footwork on the left wing but elects not to cross. After recycling play to Bellegarde, Haiti’s best player drives towards the box and win’s a corner.
60 mins: Brazil adopt a passive 4-4-2 without the ball, happy to watch Haiti pad their possession stats in innocuous areas. Haiti get to the edge of the box, Brazil step out to intercept, break, but Cunha can’t execute in the final third, but does well to win the ball back.
58 mins: Kaka and Ronaldo are sat behind Johnny two games in the posh seats. They watch Brazil work some triangles down the left and Vinicius whip over a menacing cross that requires – but does not find – a teammate steaming in at the near post. Sides without genuine strikers seem to be commonplace at this World Cup, and repeatedly exposed for their absence.
57 mins: And in the blink of an eye Vinicius should make it four but elects not to shoot early after being picked out by a majestic long diagonal pass form Marquinhos. Instead the Real forward tried to crab along the edge of the box to create more room for a right-footed curler.
56 mins: Haiti are seeing plenty of the ball this half. Providence has shown some nice touches on the left. Simon has made an improvement since his introduction. Brazil have looked oddly passive.
54 mins: This is sub-optimal fare. O jogo bonito it is not.
52 mins: Tekkers from Alisson to avoid the charging Isidor, but his outfield teammates continue to concede possession cheaply. Haiti try to hit down the right channel but Gabriel is too canny and shepherds the ball out of play.
Alisson Becker deals with Sunderland man Wilson Isidor. Photograph: Shawn Thew/EPAShare
Updated at 22.19 EDT
50 mins: There’s a lack of fluency from both sides at the start of this half. Haiti are trying to show more urgency though.
48 mins: Yep, Haiti are now lined up in a 4-4-2 to allow extra pressure on the Brazil midfield which was given so much time and space in the first half. And the change almost pays immediate dividends with Douglas giving the ball away cheaply to Isidor but the sub isn’t decisive enough in the D.
46 mins: Haiti see the ball early after the restart. I think they’re gone back to a back four with Simon dictating play from the base of midfield.
Two subs for Haiti at the break with Arcus and Pierrot making way for Simon and Isidor.
Is the main point of interest now goal difference, to determine whether Brazil or Morocco finish top of the group?
Haiti’s xG is zero. See you for the second half in a bit.
I think we have an answer to the half-past kick-off conundrum. Over to Helio Felix:
“9.30 PM (local time in Rio, São Paulo, etc) is a traditional time for Brazilian games, mainly during working days (for example, the Wednesday night games of the Brazilian football league on TV). It is due to the main TV channel (Globo), that prefers this time to fit its schedule (after nightly news and after the traditional daily soap opera). Brazilian TV certainly made that request to FIFA.”
Marcos, from the hydration break, is back. “Matheus Cunha is an excellent striker running in behind and being that fox in the box. Casemiro has been great at breaking up the play, Guimarães has progressed the ball well, and what is there to say about Paquetá’s moments of magic over the top? Turns out that compared to Ancelotti and his staff, I DKSAF (don’t know s*** about football).”
Obviously 3-0 is a very welcome scoreline for Brazil, but their play has been far from sparkling. They remain very much a work in progress.