Brazil vs Serbia final score, result: Richarlison stunner seals win as Selecao start World Cup challenge with win

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Andrew Haslam
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Richarlison's rich run of goalscoring form for Brazil continued, as the five-time winners opened their Group G challenge at the World Cup by finally breaking the resolve of a determined Serbia — thanks to the Tottenham striker's wonder goal in a second-half double.

Brazil dominated possession for much of the first half but were unable to ask too many questions of a well-drilled Serbia side. Instead, they were left relying on moments of individual improvisation and inspiration, Neymar's clever inswinging corner only just clawed away by goalkeeper Vanja Milinkovic-Savic.

With Vinicius Junior looking Brazil's most likely source of a breakthrough on the left, his opposite winger, Raphinha, went closest to finding a way through, after exchanging passes with Lucas Paqueta — only to prod his shot straight at the goalkeeper, who also saved sharply at the feet of Vinicius.

Brazil came out for the second half at an increased tempo, Vanja Milinkovic-Savic having to deny Raphinha within a few seconds of the restart, before Neymar sliced wide from Vinicius' cross.

Alex Sandro then smashed a long-range effort off the post on the hour, but two minutes later, the South American side were in front. Neymar made the initial foray into the area, the ball breaking for Vinicius and, though Milinkovic-Savic kept out his low shot, Richarlison was on hand to turn in the rebound.

The Tottenham striker's second goal was even more special — a flick into the air from Vinicius' low cross preceding a spectacular volley that made it nine goals in his last seven international appearances.

Brazil continued to push forward in the closing stages, Casemiro curling a shot against the crossbar, but the South American side had already secured a solid opening victory.

The Sporting News tracked live scoring updates and highlights for Brazil vs Serbia at the 2022 World Cup. Read below for complete results from the Group G match in Qatar.

MORE: Brazil World Cup squad 2022: Final list of 26 players for national team in Qatar 

Brazil vs. Serbia final score

  1H 2H Final
Brazil 0 2 2
Serbia 0 0 0

Goals:
BRA — Richarlison (62 mins)
BRA — Richarlison (73 mins)

Stating lineups:

Brazil  (4-2-1-3, right to left): 1. Alisson (GK) — 2. Danilo, 4. Marquinhos, 3. Silva, 6. Alex Sandro — 5. Casemiro, 7. Paqueta (8. Fred 75') — 10. Neymar (19. Antony 79') — 11. Raphinha (26. Martinelli 87'), 9. Richarlison (18. Gabriel Jesus 79'), 20. Vinicius Jr (21. Rodrygo 75')

Serbia (3-5-1-1, right to left): 23. V. Milinkovic-Savic (GK) — 5. Veljkovic, 4. Milenkovic, 2. Pavlovic — 14. Zivkovic (7. Radonjic 57'), 16. Lukic (22. Lazovic 66'), 8. Gudelj (24. Ilic 57'), 20. S. Milinkovic-Savic, 25. Mladenovic (18. Vlahovic 66') — 10. Tadic — 9. A. Mitrovic (6. Maksimovic 83')

MORE: Watch every World Cup match live with fuboTV (U.S.-only free trial)

Brazil vs Serbia as it happend, highlights from 2022 World Cup

FULLTIME Frustrated at halftime, Brazil are jubilant at the final whistle with two quality Richarlison finishes making the difference against a determined Serbia defence. The Tottenham striker snapped up a rebound to break the deadlock before a stunning volley that will surely be among the goal of the tournament contenders as the five-time winners kicked off with a solid win.

90+5 mins: It's safe to say tonight's match-winner is a man in form for Brazil.

90 mins: Seven minutes will be added on as Serbia come forward, but it would take something remarkable to rescue them now.

87 mins: All the tricks are coming out for Brazil now, Antony getting into space down the left and playing in Rodrygo, whose quick footwork creates space for a shot that he lifts over the bar.

Gabriel Martinelli comes on for Raphinha.

83 mins: More work for the goalkeeper, who plunges to his right to keep out Fred's drive after the substitute is given all the time in the world to line up a shot.

Aleksandar Mitrovic goes off to be replaced by midfielder Nemanja Maksimović. Damage limitation for Serbia now.

CROSSBAR! 82 mins: Brazil don't look like they're settling for two goals here, Casemiro curling a shot against the crossbar from just outside the area before Vanja Milinkovic-Savic thwarts Rodrygo.

(USA only)

80 mins: Brazil are taking no chances, Antony coming on for Neymar, who walked off and looks a little happier than he did a couple of minutes ago.

78 mins: Another change for Brazil, Richarlison departing with Gabriel Jesus coming on. Neymar, meanwhile, is on the ground having some treatment.

75 mins: That's the end of Vinicius Junior's evening, with his Real Madrid teammate Rodrygo taking his place. Fred is also on for Lucas Paqueta.

GOAL! 73 mins: Brazil have two and so does Richarlison! Vinicius Junior fizzes in a cross and Richarlison's first touch lifts the ball into the air before he thumps in an emphatic volley to give the goalkeeper no chance!

(USA only)

70 mins: Another corner and this might be an even better opening, Marquinhos getting back onto his own line to head away Sergej Milinkovic-Savic's effort.

(USA only)

69 mins: Serbia's best chance of getting back into this may be a set piece, Strahinja Pavlovic rises high to meet this one, but he can't get over his header and sends the ball over the bar.

66 mins: Double change for Serbia, with Darko Lazovic and Dusan Vlahovic both coming on as they start the hunt for a leveller.

64 mins: Sasa Lukic is the latest Serbia player into the book for a shove.

GOAL! 62 mins: It's been coming since halftime and Brazil have broken through at last. Neymar makes the initial foray into the area, the ball breaking for Vinicius Junior and, though Vanja Milinkovic-Savic keeps out his low shot, Richarlison is on hand to turn in the rebound!

(USA only)

POST! 60 mins: Brazil are piling forward now, Alex Sandro smashing in a shot from 25m that comes back off Vanja Milinkovic-Savic's right-hand post having bounced beyond the goalkeeper's dive!

(USA only)

57 mins: First change of the evening and it's a double switch for Serbia, Nemanja Radonjic and Ivan Ilic coming on for Andrija Zivkovic and Nemanja Gudelj.

55 mins: Vinicius Junior creates another chance, playing a square pass to Neymar in space inside the area, but he's unable to adjust his feet quickly enough and scuffs a shot wide. Brazil definitely going through the gears.

53 mins: Brazil look to have lifted the tempo since the restart, and Vinicius Junior continues to look their best source of a way through. Thiago Silva supplies the Real Madrid forward, but no one is able to get on the end of his cross.

50 mins: Nemanja Gudelj is in the thick of it again, cynically hauling down Neymar on the edge of the area to earn a booking. The Brazilian's free-kick clips the top of the wall and flies behind for a corner, from which first Thiago Silva and then Richarlison have efforts blocked.

47 mins: That may be Serbia's first mistake of the evening and they're fortunate not to be behind. Vanja Milinkovic-Savic plays Nemanja Gudelj into trouble but the goalkeeper stands up well to deny Raphinha. Serbia so nearly architects of their own downfall there.

(USA only)

46 mins: Serbia get us started again; they'll be looking for more of the same in this second half.

HALFTIME The end of a frustrating first half for Brazil, who have dominated the ball but not caused Serbia anything like enough problems. Raphinha's prodded effort was their best moment, and the Selecao will need more from the likes of Neymar if they are to find a breakthrough.

45 mins: There'll be one minute of added time at the end of this half.

44 mins: Brazil have played some excellent football at times in this first half, but without unlocking the Serbia defence on a regular basis.

(USA only)

42 mins: Almost a breakthrough for Serbia as Nikola Milenković's miskicked clearance rebounds off Vinicius Junior and set the Brazilian racing into the penalty area, but the defender recovers to get a toe on the ball and play it behind off his opponent.

39 mins: That Raphinha chance was a rare moment of goalmouth action in this first half, with Serbia holding out in some comfort. Brazil probably need to be moving the ball forward quicker.

35 mins: That's Brazil's best chance of the evening so far. Raphinha plays a great one-two with Lucas Paqueta to get inside the penalty area but fails to get hold of his shot at all, prodding straight at the goalkeeper. Had to do better.

31 mins: More decent work from Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who is down smartly to gather a cross ahead of Thiago Silva after Lucas Paqueta tricks his way into space down the right following a corner.

29 mins: The crowd have certainly added plenty of colour at the Lusail Stadium!

27 mins: Excellent work from Vanja Milinkovic-Savic, who's off his line in a flash to save at the feet of Vinicius Junior after Thiago Silva's pass splits the Serbia defence.

26 mins: Alisson under pressure for the first time as Dusan Tadic hangs up a cross from the right wing. Aleksandar Mitrovic is piling in to try and get on the end of it, but the Liverpool goalkeeper claims confidently.

24 mins: Solid defending and impressive pace from Strahinja Pavlovic, who goes toe-to-toe with Raphinha and prevents the Brazil winger keeping the ball in play. Serbia looking relatively comfortable just at the moment.

21 mins: Alex Sandro and Vinicius Junior link up down the left, the latter laying the ball back for Neymar, who lets fly from 25m. That shot is charged down but Brazil swiftly regain possession, Casemiro trying his luck from range but Vanja Milinkovic-Savic getting right behind it.

18 mins: Serbia's gameplan is clear; close down the space and closely mark any Brazilian attackers. They look like they're growing in confidence as well.

16 mins: Neymar has come in for PLENTY of attention already this evening...

(USA only)

13 mins: Brazil look like they're purring already, with Vinicius Junior getting away down the left to win a corner. From it, Neymar tries to catch out Vanja Milinkovic-Savic with a curling delivery straight under the crossbar, but the goalkeeper punches clear.

(USA only)

10 mins: Great vision from Casemiro, who threads a pass through to Neymar inside the penalty area; for once, however, he can't capitalise, taking too many touches and being crowded out.

7 mins: Ooh, Strahinja Pavlovic might live to regret this one. The Serbia defender goes in on Neymar, to 'Let him know he's there early', and is rewarded with a yellow card. It's going to be a long evening for him now.

4 mins: Wonderful bit of skill from Vinicius Junior in midfield to set Raphinha away down the right. The winger is able to skip past Strahinja Pavlovic but then fails to exploit the space he's created, a low cross being easily cut out.

2 mins: An absolute sea of Brazil shirts in the stands for this one. No doubt who the crowd are backing this evening.

KICKOFF: Neymar gets Brazil's first touch of Qatar 2022, and the final game of the opening round of fixtures is underway.

3 mins to kickoff: Spearheading Brazil's hopes in a World Cup isn't for everyone, but Neymar doesn't look to be feeling the pressure.

(USA only)

5 mins from kickoff: The teams emerge from the tunnel to a huge roar at the Lusail Stadium. Everyone wants a piece of the five-time world champions.

10 mins from kickoff: It's safe to say Brazil are used to getting off to a decent start at World Cups!

20 mins from kickoff: Serbia are in the finals for the fourth time in five editions of the competition – and the 13th overall – but have not survived the group stage since 1998. Indeed, they have lost seven of their last nine matches at the tournament. 

30 mins from kickoff: Five-time winners Brazil kick off their 22nd World Cup campaign looking to claim the trophy for the first time since 2002. Three of their last four finals appearances have ended in the quarter-finals, including four years ago when they went down 2-1 to Belgium. 

Tite's side set a CONMEBOL record with 45 points in qualifying, winning 14 of their 17 games, with Neymar scoring eight goals and providing eight assists. Much will depend on the PSG forward, who has been involved in 42% of his side's last 19 World Cup goals, scoring six with two assists. 

45 mins from kickoff: Brazil are unbeaten in 17 matches against Serbia (including Yugoslavia) since an 8-4 defeat in Belgrade on 3 June 1934. They were 2-0 winners against the European side in the third round of group games at the 2018 World Cup thanks to a goal in each half from Paulinho and Thiago Silva. 

1 hr from kickoff: Here's how Brazil start!

1.5 hrs from kickoff: Need to make the case for Serbia? Only Memphis Depay and Harry Kane, who each nabbed 12, scored more goals than Aleksandar Mitrovic (8 in 8 games) in the main round of European qualifiers for the 2022 World Cup, if you don't count the play-offs.

And no player delivered more assists than Dusan Tadic (6 in 8 games).

2 hrs from kickoff: Another of Serbia's national sides have a message for tonight's underdogs.

2.5 hrs from kickoff: Inside Brazil's dressing room...

3 hrs from kickoff: Some more numbers to illustrate the task facing Serbia and Brazil's other group opponents...

Brazil are unbeaten in their last 15 World Cup group games, winning 12 of those matches and drawing three of them.

Their last defeat in the group phase was in 1998 against Norway, and they have topped their group in round one in every single World Cup since 1982, last failed to progress past this point in 1966.

3.5 hrs from kickoff: Since his debut at the FIFA World Cup in 2014, Neymar has been directly involved in 42% of Brazil’s 19 goals in the tournament (6 goals, 2 assists).

Neymar
Getty Images

4 hrs from kickoff: "It took four years of total preparation, focus and hard work," Brazil's social media accounts declared yesterday. "Now our time has come."

Their manager, Tite, will become the first coach to lead Brazil at back-to-back FIFA World Cups since Tele Santana in 1982 and 1986.

4.5 hrs from kickoff: Serbia are unbeaten in six matches since their 1-0 defeat at home to Norway on June 2, winning five times during that run.

They've won their last three games and scored 11 times along the way, thrashing Sweden 4-1 at home and gaining revenge with a 2-0 win in Norway in the UEFA Nations League before a 5-1 hammering of Bahrain six days ago.

5 hrs from kickoff: Hello, and welcome to The Sporting News' live coverage of the Group G clash between Brazil and Serbia. The favourites for the title finally get their challenge underway, and there is a lot of expectation on the Selecao. Let's get started!

Brazil vs Serbia starting lineups

Vinicius Junior earned a starting berth against Serbia, who topped a qualifying group featuring Cristiano Ronaldo's Portugal. 

Raphinha lines up on the opposite flank, with Neymar in an advanced midfield role in an attacking lineup.

Brazil (4-3-3, right to left): 1. Alisson (GK) — 2. Danilo, 3. Silva, 4. Marquinhos, 6. Alex Sandro — 5. Casemiro 7. Paqueta, 10. Neymar — 11. Raphinha, 9. Richarlison, 20. Vinicius Jr

Serbia's star forwards Aleksandar Mitrovic and Dusan Vlahovic suffered injuries earlier this season but have both returned to fitness, although only Mitrovic started. Vlahovic and Juventus' Filip Kostic, who has had unspecified muscular problems, both began on the bench.

Serbia probable (4-3-3, right to left): 23. V. Milinkovic-Savic (GK) — 5. Veljkovic, 4. Milenkovic, 2. Pavlovic — 14. Zivkovic, 16. Lukic, 8. Gudelj, 20. S. Milinkovic-Savic, 25. Mladenovic — 10. Tadic — 9. A. Mitrovic

Brazil vs Serbia live stream, TV channel

Here's how you can watch all the action in the major global territories.

  Date Time TV Channel Streaming
USA Thu, Nov. 24 14:00 ET FOX, Telemundo  fuboTV, Fox Sports app, Telemundo Deportes En Vivo, Peacock Premium
Australia Fri, Nov. 25 06:00 AEDT SBS SBS On Demand
UK Thu, Nov. 17 19:00 GMT BBC One BBC Online, BBC iPlayer
Canada Thu, Nov. 17 14:00 EST TSN, CTV TSN app, CTV GO
Hong Kong Fri, Nov. 25 03:00 HKT — Now TV
India Fri, Nov. 25 00:30 IST Sports18 Voot, JioTV
Malaysia Fri, Nov. 25 03:00 MYT Astro, RTM Astro Go, RTMKlik
New Zealand Fri, Nov. 25 08:00 NZDT Sky Sports Sky Go NZ
Singapore Fri, Nov. 25 03:00 SGT — MeWatch, Singtel, StarHub

Watch the match on fuboTV in USA

Author(s)
Andrew Haslam Photo
Andrew Haslam

Andrew Haslam is a freelance content producer for The Sporting News