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Brazil-Chile, Mexico-Netherlands matchup set

June 23, 2014

Brazil’s Neymar controls a ball during the group A World Cup soccer match between Cameroon and Brazil at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia, Brazil, Monday, June 23, 2014. (AP Photo/Dolores Ochoa)

Barcelona star Neymar scored twice as host Brazil crushed Cameroon 4-1 to advance to the knockout stages. In other Group A action, Mexico used a late surge to edge Croatia 3-1 to also advance. In Group B, the high-powered Netherlands defeated Chile 2-0 to win the group with the maximum nine points. Brazil will face Chile, and Mexico will go up against the Netherlands in the round of 16. Spain, the previous champion which failed to make it to the second round, recovered a fraction of its pride in defeating Australia 3-0. Following a frustrating 0-0 draw against Mexico, the Brazilians were in full attacking mode out of the gate, and after a number of missed chances, Neymark converted on a Luiz Gustavo cross to make it 1-0 after the 17th minute. Cameroon mustered a rally and equalized nine minutes later when Joel Matip slotted a right footer from close range. However, the momentum did not last long for the underdogs as Neymar hit a right footer from the center of the box to make it 2-1 after the 34th minute. Four minutes into the second half, David Luiz found Fred deep inside the box and the forward, criticized for his uneven play in the previous two matches, nodded the ball into the bottom right corner. The third goal seemed to kill the fight in Cameroon and Fernandinho drilled a right footer from the center of the box to complete the rout for the hosts.

Mexico’s Andres Guardado, center, celebrates with Mexico’s Javier Hernandez, right, after he scored his team’s second goal during the group A World Cup soccer match between Croatia and Mexico at the Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Monday, June 23, 2014. Mexico won 3-1.(AP Photo/Ricardo Mazalan)

Against a stingy Chile, the Netherlands managed to get by without Robin Van Persie, suspended for the match after collecting his second yellow card against Australia, with Leroy Fer and Memphis Depay picking up the scoring load. Both teams had already qualified for the second round after starting with wins over Spain and Australia. Mexico looked impressive against Croatia, with Rafael Marquez opening with a header before Andres Guardado drove in a shot and Javier Hernandez headed in another to build a 3-0 lead. Ivan Perisic scored for Croatia, whose misery was compounded when Ante Rebic was sent off late on.