Recap: Neymar Shines as Brazil Win World Cup Opener

After a bad start that opened just ten minutes after the game started, the Brazilians scored three in the next 80 minutes to beat Croatia 3-1 in the first match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup. A bad own goal by Marcelo in which he looked like how the ball hit his foot and then in his own goal. Nearly two hours later, Marcelo was thanking the entire team for scoring three goals. Croatia`s only goal came in the 11th minute when they were on a breakaway when a cross came from Ivica Olic, that tipped Nikica Jelavic`s foot before hitting off Marcelo into the net. The Brazilians soon had many chances on goal, such as a diving save by Stipe Pletikosa, the Croatian goalkeeper, in the 27th minute. They finally scored in the 29th minute when Neymar shot it low to hit it off the right post, barely passing Pletikosa`s hand. In the second half, the Brazilian tempo dropped as if the match was going to end in a tie. But the Brazilians won a penalty in the 69th minute when Fred fell from Dejan Lovren. The contact was little, but it was enough to win a penalty. Neymar score again on the penalty in the 71st minute to take the lead. A header by Croatia in the 83rd minute that turned into a goal was disallowed when Olic fouled Julio Cesar, the Brazilian goalkeeper. The two collided during the header, allowing an open net for the Croatians to score. The call made the Croatians furious, as it could have been a tied result. But the Brazilians sealed sealed it as Oscar scored in stoppage time on a late breakaway to score low on the left side of the net. It sealed the three points and the win, while the Croatians are now last in the group.