After a stuttering start to their Copa America campaign, Brazil roared back to life on Friday night, dismantling Paraguay 4-1 in a dominant display. The hero of the hour was undoubtedly Vinicius Jr., who rediscovered his dazzling club form and bagged a first-half brace to silence critics and propel the Selecao to their first win of the tournament.
Coming off a disappointing 0-0 draw against Costa Rica, the pressure was firmly on Brazil’s shoulders. Manager Dorival Junior responded with a couple of tweaks to the starting lineup, introducing Savio and Wendell, with the hope of injecting some much-needed creativity into the attack.
The early exchanges were tentative, with both sides cancelling each other out in midfield. However, unlike the Costa Rica encounter, Brazil looked purposeful in their attacking endeavors. Vinicius Jr., in particular, seemed determined to make a statement. The Real Madrid winger was a constant menace down the left flank, tormenting the Paraguayan defense with his pace and trickery.
The breakthrough finally arrived in the 35th minute, and it was a moment of pure magic courtesy of Vinicius Jr. Picking up the ball on the left touchline, he unleashed a sensational rainbow flick to nutmeg Paraguay’s right-back, Antonio Bareiro. The audacity of the skill left the entire stadium gasping for air. With Bareiro completely out of the picture, Vini Jr. charged into the penalty area and coolly slotted the ball past Antony Silva for the opening goal.
The floodgates seemed to have opened. Just eight minutes later, Brazil doubled their lead through debutant Savio. The young winger, combining well with Lucas Paqueta, showed commendable composure to finish first-time after a delightful through ball from the Lyon midfielder.
The Selecao weren’t done yet. As the first half approached stoppage time, Vinicius Jr. popped up again to add his second of the night. This time, it was a more clinical finish, as he expertly volleyed home a cross from Danilo, sending the Brazilian fans into a frenzy.
Paraguay, to their credit, didn’t surrender without a fight. They pulled one goal back three minutes into the second half through a long-range effort from Omar Alderete, which caught Brazilian goalkeeper Ederson slightly off guard.
However, any hopes of a comeback were quickly extinguished. Lucas Paqueta, who had missed a penalty earlier in the game, redeemed himself by scoring Brazil’s fourth goal from the spot in the 65th minute. The foul on Richarlison that led to the penalty was rather soft, but the Selecao wouldn’t complain.
The final score of 4-1 reflected Brazil’s dominance throughout the match. Vinicius Jr. was undoubtedly the star of the show, silencing his doubters with a performance that oozed confidence and flair. His two goals and overall play were reminiscent of the dazzling displays he produces week-in, week-out for Real Madrid.
“It feels amazing to score for my country,” said Vinicius Jr. after the match. “We needed a win after the first game, and I’m glad I could contribute. We showed the real Brazil tonight, and hopefully, this is the start of a successful tournament for us.”
Manager Dorival Junior was also pleased with his team’s performance. “We knew we had to bounce back after the Costa Rica game,” he said. “We made a few changes, and the players responded brilliantly. Vinicius Jr. was outstanding, and the entire team showed great character. This win will give us a lot of confidence going forward.”
The victory against Paraguay has revitalized Brazil’s Copa America campaign. They now sit second in Group D, just behind Colombia, who they face in their final group stage match on July 2nd. If Vinicius Jr. can continue to perform at this level, the Selecao will be a force to be reckoned with in the knockout stages.
This win also marks a significant turning point for Vinicius Jr. on the international stage. Having faced criticism for his previous performances with Brazil, he has silenced his doubters with a resounding performance. The 23-year-old looks ready to take the mantle of leadership for the Selecao and lead them to Copa America glory.
