EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. (AP) 鈥� When Brazil found itself trailing Morocco in and the crowd full of yellow-clad Sele莽茫o fans went from nervously quiet to stunned silent on Saturday night, Vin铆cius J煤nior was there to bring the life back with a highlight-reel moment.
The soon-to-be 26-year-old left winger passed the ball to Bruno Guimar茫es to draw in three defenders and then did the rest himself. Vin铆cius deked around Neil El Aynaoui and fired a right-footed shot through Morocco鈥檚 defense and of the net past goalkeeper Yassine Bounou.
“We had to adapt as fast as possible because they scored on us too early, and it completely changed our way of play,” Vin铆cius said through an interpreter. 鈥淎fter they scored a goal against us, we were able to react very quickly and we scored a goal,”
The crowd-pleasing goal for more than 75,000 in attendance provided enough offense to in the only group stage match of the tournament between teams in the top 10 of the FIFA world rankings. Coach Carlo Ancelotti caught some criticism for not playing teenager Endrick, and adjustments are coming, but Vin铆cius was a difference-maker at the start of his second World Cup.
“He did well,” Ancelotti said. “He was dangerous, and I think he has everything in his power to have a good World Cup.鈥�
The player nicknamed Vin铆 thinks he has better to show in the tournament. Coming off scoring 16 goals in 36 games with Real Madrid, he had the ball on several occasions against Morocco in position to create scoring chances.
鈥淚 believe I can improve a lot,” Vin铆cius said. 鈥淚 was able to score the goal, but I鈥檓 not yet at 100% of my technical skill. I can improve on that and help Brazil on the attacking.鈥�
The goal by Vin铆cius was his first in a head-to-head matchup against Achraf Hakimi, internationally or in club play with Real Madrid. Hakimi is Morocco’s captain and has played for Paris Saint-Germain since 2021.
Morocco coach Mohamed Ouahbi called it a team defensive blunder.
鈥淰in铆cius, obviously he鈥檚 a great player,鈥� Ouahbi said through an interpreter. 鈥淏ut we didn鈥檛 have enough players in the zone at the time. We had lost the ball suddenly, and they counterattacked, so it was much harder to defend. And when you鈥檙e up against Vin铆cius, well, it鈥檚 hard to defend together.鈥�
Vin铆cius scored in his 50th game playing for Brazil’s national team. Vin铆cius credited Ancelotti for knowing him so well.
鈥淗e helps me adapt as quickly as possible to my team, and he gives me the importance that I need and deserve,鈥� Vin铆cius said. 鈥淕od willing, I鈥檒l do more for him.鈥�
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