Richarlison’s stunning volley capped an opening 2-0 victory for Brazil over Serbia in Group G.
The Tottenham striker was preferred to Arsenal’s Gabriel Jesus and justified his selection with both goals at a yellow-clad Lusail Stadium.
After a tepid first half where Serbia’s committed defence had the upper hand, Richarlison broke the deadlock with a tap-in in the 62nd minute and then scored a spectacular second 11 minutes later.
Richarlison! What have you done?! 🤯#FIFAWorldCup | @richarlison97 pic.twitter.com/kCKFdlINXq
— FIFA World Cup (@FIFAWorldCup) November 24, 2022
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After flicking the ball up with his left foot 12 yards out, Richarlison spun and leapt into the air to send a right-footed volley flying into the corner of the net.
Vinicius Junior’s pace down the left was Brazil’s biggest early threat, and a lively run by the Real Madrid forward led to a corner, from which Neymar forced Vanja Milinkovic-Savic to push the ball over the bar.
Neymar and Casemiro tried their luck from long range before the first real opening of the game arrived in the 27th minute.
![Richarlison scores the opening goal](https://img.resized.co/breaking-news/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2ltYWdlLmFzc2V0cy5wcmVzc2Fzc29jaWF0aW9uLmlvXFxcL3YyXFxcL2ltYWdlXFxcL3Byb2R1Y3Rpb25cXFwvYzhjZjRjZTE3M2IzNzIyMDlmOTI4MDczMGNiZTRmNTlZMjl1ZEdWdWRITmxZWEpqYUdGd2FTd3hOalk1TkRBNU1EZ3lcXFwvMi42OTk0MTAwNC5qcGc_dz02NDBcIixcIndpZHRoXCI6XCI2NDBcIixcImhlaWdodFwiOlwiNDM3XCIsXCJkZWZhdWx0XCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3d3dy5icmVha2luZ25ld3MuaWVcXFwvaW1hZ2VzXFxcL25vLWltYWdlLnBuZ1wiLFwib3B0aW9uc1wiOntcIm91dHB1dFwiOlwid2VicFwifX0iLCJoYXNoIjoiM2NmNGYyYWQzZTU1MjI3MWIwMGU0ZGUwNjRlMzAzYTk1NTg5OGUxYiJ9/two-goal-richarlison-caps-brazil-victory-over-serbia-with-spectacular-volley.jpg?w=640)
A great ball from Thiago Silva picked out Vinicius on the left of the area but Milinkovic-Savic came out quickly and timed his block to perfection.
Neymar just failed to get on the end of a cross from Raphinha after good work from Lucas Paqueta while the former Leeds man was presented with a golden chance shortly afterwards having played a one-two with Paqueta but shot tamely at Milinkovic-Savic.
The Serbia keeper stood tall again just after half-time to keep out Raphinha once more following a mistake in defence, and Brazil continued to probe.
Neymar shot wide in the 55th minute after being teed up by Vinicius, and five minutes later Alex Sandro let fly with a powerful long-range effort that smacked against the post.
![Neymar picked up a knock](https://img.resized.co/breaking-news/eyJkYXRhIjoie1widXJsXCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL2ltYWdlLmFzc2V0cy5wcmVzc2Fzc29jaWF0aW9uLmlvXFxcL3YyXFxcL2ltYWdlXFxcL3Byb2R1Y3Rpb25cXFwvNDQ0NmUwOGVkY2JhNzA1ODg5ZTMzMmVmZTJlMTY3ZDFZMjl1ZEdWdWRITmxZWEpqYUdGd2FTd3hOalk1TkRBNU56TTJcXFwvMi42OTk0MTM5NS5qcGc_dz02NDBcIixcIndpZHRoXCI6XCI2NDBcIixcImhlaWdodFwiOlwiNDI3XCIsXCJkZWZhdWx0XCI6XCJodHRwczpcXFwvXFxcL3d3dy5icmVha2luZ25ld3MuaWVcXFwvaW1hZ2VzXFxcL25vLWltYWdlLnBuZ1wiLFwib3B0aW9uc1wiOntcIm91dHB1dFwiOlwid2VicFwifX0iLCJoYXNoIjoiOGYyZGQ5ZDFmMDFlMDg1YzVmYzBlMzljMzA4NWI2MDc1NDY5ZGI1NiJ9/two-goal-richarlison-caps-brazil-victory-over-serbia-with-spectacular-volley.jpg?w=640)
The pressure soon paid off, though, with Milinkovic-Savic producing yet another save from Vinicius, but this time he could only push the ball out to Richarlison, who reacted smartly to poke into an empty net.
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Serbia risked exposing themselves completely at the back by pressing for an equaliser, and set-pieces offered their best hope, but they failed to test Alisson Becker.
Richarlison’s brilliant second ended the game as a contest and it could have been more, with Casemiro unlucky to see his fine strike hit the bar before Milinkovic-Savic denied substitute Fred.
The only concern for Brazil was the late substitution of Neymar following treatment for a knock, while Danilo limped through the final minutes.