Vinícius and Cunha fire Brazil past Haiti and into World Cup contention

Vinícius Júnior scored and assisted on one of Matheus Cunha's two goals as five-time champions Brazil eliminated Haiti from the World Cup with a 3-0 victory on Friday night.

Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation that qualified for the World Cup for the first time since 1974, became the first team guaranteed not to reach the knockout round. Meanwhile, the Seleção produced the decisive performance they needed.

Cunha, the Manchester United forward, got the start and showed with every surf-and-slide goal celebration why he should have been in the starting line-up in Brazil's listless 1-1 draw against Morocco. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti made the surprising decision in the opener to instead insert Cunha as a late substitute.

Cunha thrilled the Brazilian fans, who made up the bulk of the 68,324 spectators at Lincoln Financial Field, when he tapped in a rebound for his first career World Cup goal. He then sent a left-footed strike into the upper left corner for a 2-0 lead in the first half against the overmatched Haitians.

Brazil forward Raphinha, who was substituted with an injury in the first half, had an early goal disallowed for offside, only temporarily muting the yellow-clad Seleção supporters in an otherwise festive atmosphere at the home of the two-time Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, whose cheerleaders did their part to rally the crowd.

Haitian fans danced and sang "Grenadye Alaso" ("Grenadiers to the Attack"), the traditional battle cry of the national team. Brazilians chanted back, reminding them their country is the five-time World Cup champion and the home of the king of football: "A thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals! Only Pelé, only Pelé!"

Cunha added to the festivities in Philadelphia, home to nearly 6,000 Brazilian immigrants, when he flashed his familiar surfing celebration.

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Vinícius, whose 32nd-minute goal helped Brazil earn a draw against Morocco, helped Brazil get on the scoresheet when his shot was stopped by goalkeeper Johny Placide and Cunha was there to slam home the rebound to make it 1-0. Cunha extended both arms as if trying to catch some tasty waves and was mobbed by his team-mates.

Vinícius slid a pass through the defence to find Cunha and he powered one high into the net that Placide never had a chance to stop to make it 2-0. Cunha slid on his stomach and mimicked a swimming motion that all but put Haiti in the drink – and validated the Brazilian fans' decision not to tempt fate by dressing the Rocky statue in team gear for bad luck.

Vinícius closed the half with a goal and that was enough to keep Brazil – seeking their first World Cup title since 2002 – happy before they close Group C play against Scotland on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Neymar was ruled out of Brazil's second straight match because of a lingering calf injury.

(FRANCE 24 with AP)

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