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Russia 0 Brazil 3: Selecao make easy work of World Cup hosts in Moscow friendly

On target | Miranda, Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho scored in the second half: AP
On target | Miranda, Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho scored in the second half: AP

World Cup favourites Brazil continued their preparations for the summer tournament with a routine 3-0 win over hosts Russia in Moscow’s Luzhniki Stadium.

Though second-half goals from Miranda, Philippe Coutinho secured a margin of victory which flattered Tite’s side, who for much of the game struggled to find a way past a limited Russian side.

Russia may not set the tournament alight with slick attacking play – on the one occasion they did get in behind a clumsy Brazilian defence Aleksey Miranchuk contrived to shoot over from close range – but they certainly do not look like being easy to break down.

Though the defence fell asleep in the fifth minute, allowing Gabriel Jesus to dart in behind and strike at Igor Akinfeev’s feet, it was a rare first-half error as the Russians largely held the formidable attack ahead of them to pot shots.

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

Douglas Costa, one of the few players in Tite’s side fighting to earn a squad berth in the summer, added drive from deep but he might have been entitled to bemoan Willian’s finishing when the Chelsea man wasted the chance his team-mate had crafted by driving straight at Igor Akinfeev.

The CSKA Moscow goalkeeper became something of a cult hero among European audience for his 11-year struggle to keep a clean sheet in the Champions League but he looked a different keeper on the international stage.

Brazil’s first flowing move of the game came early in the second half when Willian laid a square pass to Paulinho, who seemed certain to tap home only for Akinfeev’s outstretched boot to deny the Barcelona midfielder.

(REUTERS)
(REUTERS)

It seemed the 31-year-old didn’t even need his limbs to keep Brazil at bay as a Willian shot deflected off a defender and straight into Akinfeev’s face.

However it was to be the final lucky break for the goalkeeper as the resulting corner as his excellent parry of Thiago Silva’s header landed at the feet of Miranda to slot home.

Paulinho should have doubled Brazil’s lead on the hour but turned Coutinho’s cross-shot straight at Akinfeev’s arms from close range. He soon earned redemption when he was dragged back by Aleksandr Golovin in the area.

Coutinho calmly sent Akinfeev the wrong way from the spot. His Barcelona team-mate Paulinho added gloss to the scoreline on 66 minutes when he headed home Willian’s cross from close range.