Brazil arrived in Philadelphia needing a statement after a frustrating draw against Morocco. They left with exactly that, producing a vibrant first-half display to defeat Haiti 3-0 and move to the top of Group C. At the heart of the response was Matheus Cunha, whose two goals helped restore confidence and momentum to the five-time world champions.
The pressure had been building on Carlo Ancelotti’s side after their underwhelming tournament opener. Questions surrounded Brazil’s attacking sharpness, but those concerns quickly disappeared as the Selecao attacked with speed, movement and purpose from the opening whistle.
Ancelotti’s decision to replace Igor Thiago with Cunha proved decisive. The Manchester United forward rewarded his coach’s faith with a tireless performance that troubled Haiti’s defence throughout the first half.
Brazil thought they had taken an early lead when Raphinha finished smartly after racing onto a through ball, but the Barcelona winger had moved too soon. It was an early warning for Haiti, whose high defensive line continued to invite danger.
The breakthrough arrived in the 23rd minute. Vinícius Júnior cut inside and forced a save from Johny Placide, with Cunha reacting quickest to convert the rebound. The finish carried a touch of fortune, but Brazil’s dominance made the goal feel inevitable.
Cunha’s second strike was far more emphatic. Haiti lost possession in midfield, Vinícius surged forward and slipped a perfect pass into his path. Falling away from goal, Cunha unleashed a powerful finish into the roof of the net to underline his growing influence.
If Cunha provided the finishing touch, Vinícius supplied the spark. The Real Madrid star was involved in almost everything dangerous Brazil created. After setting up two goals, he added one of his own in first-half stoppage time, calmly finishing after Lucas Paquetá’s clever pass split the Haitian defence.
The contest was effectively over by halftime, but Brazil’s defensive display also deserved praise. Haiti failed to register a shot during the opening 45 minutes, highlighting the control Brazil lacked against Morocco days earlier.
There was one concern for Ancelotti. Raphinha limped off before the break with a suspected hamstring injury, creating uncertainty ahead of the final group match. With Neymar already unavailable, Brazil will hope the winger’s problem is not serious.
The second half offered glimpses of the future. Fan favourite Endrick made his World Cup debut and thought he had marked the occasion with a goal, only for the offside flag to deny him. Haiti, meanwhile, fought bravely and almost scored through Ricardo Ade, but Alisson produced an excellent save.
