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Richarlison brace fires Brazil to 5-0 triumph

September 12, 2018
Brazil’s defender Marquinhos scores a goal against El Salvador during their international friendly soccer match at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, Tuesday. — Reuters
Brazil’s defender Marquinhos scores a goal against El Salvador during their international friendly soccer match at FedEx Field in Landover, Maryland, Tuesday. — Reuters

LANDOVER — A double from Richarlison on his first international start helped Brazil to a 5-0 win over El Salvador in Maryland Tuesday.

Brazil ran out with a new-look side, with coach Tite giving debuts to goalkeeper Neto and full-back Eder Militao as well as first starts to Richarlison at center forward and Arthur in midfield.

The new boys looked completely at home against a team ranked 72nd in the world and Brazil took just three minutes to open the scoring when Neymar slotted home a penalty after Richarlison had been brought down in the box.

Richarlison got his name on the scoresheet 13 minutes later when he curled a spectacular shot into the top corner from 15 meters out and on the half hour mark Brazil made it 3-0, Phillipe Coutinho firing home from the edge of the box after Neymar laid the ball into his path.

Both sides made changes at halftime but the five-time world champions took just five more minutes to get a fourth goal, with Richarlison scoring his second when he pounced onto a loose ball to rifle home a low shot from inside the box.

Marquinhos got Brazil a fifth in the final minute when he headed home a corner from Neymar.

Argentina 0 Colombia 0

Argentina and Colombia drew 0-0 in a friendly in New Jersey Tuesday in a game that did little to cheer fans of either side hoping for a boost after disappointing World Cup showings.

Colombian goalkeeper David Ospina made a fine diving save to tip an Exequiel Palacios shot over the bar after six minutes while his Argentine counterpart Franco Armani was the busier of the two in the second half but neither side looked like breaking the deadlock.

Rashford scores winner

Striker Marcus Rashford scored a second-half winner as a young and much-changed England avoided an unprecedented fourth successive defeat by beating Switzerland 1-0 in a friendly Tuesday.

The Manchester United forward clinically side-footed the ball home at the back post in the 54th minute at Leicester City’s King Power Stadium after an over-hit corner was swung back in by Kyle Walker.

It was Rashford’s fifth goal for England in 27 matches, and second in the space of days after he also scored against Spain in the 2-1 Nations League defeat at Wembley last Saturday.

The World Cup semifinalist, which made nine changes to the starting line-up, provided few thrills in a first half controlled by the more flowing Swiss but were much sharper after the break.

Manager Gareth Southgate made a raft of substitutions after the breakthrough, including bringing on striker Harry Kane in the 61st minute despite having indicated that he would be rested.

Leicester City’s Ben Chilwell also came off the bench, making his England debut at his home Premier League ground to loud applause.

Switzerland had its chances in the first half, with Xherdan Shaqiri hitting the outside of the post from inside the box after seven minutes.

While England goalkeeper Jack Butland made some important saves, Southgate’s side too often looked vulnerable in defence in the opening half.

Teenager Adams strikes

A second-half goal from 19-year old Tyler Adams, his first for his country, gave the United States a 1-0 win over Mexico in a friendly in Nashville Tuesday.

Mexico’s Angel Zaldivar was shown a straight red card for a dangerous tackle on Wil Trapp in the 67th minute and four minutes later the home side got the winner, Adams taking advantage of poor positioning by the Mexican defense to slot home from 12 meters out.

The win was a welcome one for the home side, who lost last week’s friendly against Brazil, but another disappointment for Mexico as it has now lost three games in a row. — Agencies


September 12, 2018
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