Brazil got the response they needed in Brazil vs Haiti, beating Haiti 3-0 after their draw with Morocco. The headline was Matheus Cunha, who was trusted as a makeshift centre-forward and scored twice before half-time. Vinícius Júnior was just as influential in the game itself, while Raphinha's 40th-minute injury was the one detail that stopped the night feeling entirely straightforward.
Sky Sports summed up the selection call neatly: "Carlo Ancelotti's side needed a response after drawing with Morocco in their opening match and his decision to drop Brentford striker Igor Thiago for Manchester United forward Cunha paid off in Philadelphia."
Why Cunha's role worked
Ancelotti took a clear risk with Cunha. He is not a specialist penalty-box striker, but the idea was obvious enough: mobility, link play and sharper movement around Brazil's wide threats.
It paid off quickly. Cunha opened the scoring in the 23rd minute, giving Brazil the control they had lacked in patches of the opening game. He then struck again in the 36th minute, this time with a left-footed finish driven high at the near post.
Those were his only 2 shots on target, and both became goals. That kind of efficiency matters when a selection choice is under scrutiny, because it turns a tactical idea into a result rather than just an interesting experiment.
The Mirror's report put it this way: "Ancelotti went against the grain and selected Matheus Cunha as a makeshift centre-forward. Cunha is not an out-and-out striker but it's a role he previously mastered with Wolves to earn a £62.5million transfer to Manchester United and as a Bobby Firmino-esque 'connector' his inclusion paid dividends for Ancelotti."
The transfer detail is secondary here. What matters more is the description of the role. Cunha gave Brazil a forward who could finish chances and still connect play, and that fit the game better than a more static option would have done.
His 9.3 rating reflected that impact. For one match at least, Ancelotti's call was fully justified.
Vinicius drove the attack even without the spotlight
If Cunha supplied the goals, Vinícius Júnior supplied much of the threat around them. He started the move for Cunha's first goal, stretching Haiti before the final action arrived in the box.
Then he got his own reward in first-half stoppage time, making it 3-0 and effectively ending the contest before the interval. Brazil's front two attacking performers accounted for all 3 goals between them, with Vinicius posting 1 goal and 1 assist and Cunha scoring both of his chances on target.
That is the part of the performance that will please Ancelotti most. Brazil did not just win comfortably, they looked connected in attack. Vinicius was central to that without needing to dominate every touch.
His 8.2 rating backed up what the game suggested. Cunha was the finisher, but Vinicius was involved in almost every decisive sequence.
The one concern Brazil take from the win
The only obvious problem came before half-time when Raphinha was forced off in the 40th minute with an apparent hamstring injury. Sky Sports called it "The only negative for Brazil", and that feels accurate given how little trouble Haiti caused on the scoreboard.
The concern is real, even if the diagnosis is not settled. The Mirror reported: "For now, Brazil will await further clarity from team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar, who appeared concerned after conducting initial tests on Raphinha's hamstring."
That is enough to put a cloud over an otherwise easy night. It does not confirm a tear or give any timeline, but it clearly leaves Brazil waiting for answers before the final Group C match.
There was also a first World Cup appearance for Endrick, who came on in the second half. He did not score, with his goal ruled out for offside, but the cameo still added another point of interest once the result was already beyond doubt.
Brazil will take the 3-0 win, Cunha's 2-goal statement and another strong night from Vinícius Júnior. The bigger question now is whether Raphinha is fit enough to feature in the next game, because this was a comfortable win that still came with a cost.
FAQ
Why did Brazil use Matheus Cunha as a centre-forward against Haiti?
Carlo Ancelotti changed his selection after Brazil's draw with Morocco and started Matheus Cunha up front instead of Igor Thiago. That call worked in this match. Cunha scored in the 23rd minute, struck again in the 36th, and finished with 2 goals from 2 shots on target in Brazil's 3-0 win over Haiti.
How important was Vinicius Junior in Brazil's win over Haiti?
Vinicius Junior was involved throughout Brazil's best attacking moments. He started the move for Cunha's first goal, then added a goal and an assist of his own. His direct contribution was 1 goal and 1 assist, and he finished with an 8.2 rating in a game Brazil had effectively settled before half-time.
What happened to Raphinha in Brazil vs Haiti?
Raphinha was forced off in the 40th minute with an apparent hamstring injury. Sky Sports described it as the only negative for Brazil, while the Mirror reported that team doctor Rodrigo Lasmar appeared concerned after initial checks. There is concern, but no confirmed tear or recovery timeline from the reports cited here.
Did Endrick score on his World Cup debut for Brazil?
No. Endrick came on in the second half to make his World Cup debut, but he did not score. Any claim that he did would be wrong because his goal was ruled out for offside.
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