<\/p>\n
Brazil turned on the style with a first-half blitz to sink shambolic South Korea 4-1 and cruise into the World Cup quarter-finals in Qatar.<\/p>\n
Vinicius Junior, Neymar, Richarlison and Lucas Paqueta all found the net as the five-time champions exploited yawning gaps in their opponents\u2019 defence to run riot.<\/p>\n
As the favourites eased down after the break South Korea showed plenty of intent in attack and grabbed a deserved consolation goal in the 76th minute when Seung-ho Paik let fly from the edge of the box.<\/p>\n
A scintillating first-half performance that will live long in the memory was kicked off in the seventh minute by the brilliant Vinicius who threaded a delicious effort through a swarm of South Korean defenders to grab the opener.<\/p>\n
Neymar, back after missing the previous two games with an ankle injury, swept home a cheeky penalty in the 12th minute after Richarlison was rather harshly adjudged to have been fouled in the box.<\/p>\n
His goal took Neymar to within one of matching Pele\u2019s all-time record for their country and it was clear from their flamboyant celebrations that this Brazilian team boasts a team spirit to match the best of their predecessors.<\/p>\n
Despite their ineptitude at the back, the South Koreans looked sharp when they went forward, and Hwang Hee-chan almost reduced the deficit when he hit a brilliant shot from 25 yards that Alisson Becker superbly tipped over the bar.<\/p>\n
Richarlison rounded off a brilliant team move in the 29th minute when he placed Brazil\u2019s third past Kim Seung-gyu after an audacious, defence-splitting pass from centre-back Thiago Silva.<\/p>\n
Brazil continued to surge forward and Paqueta made it four in the 36th minute with a superb side-foot volley after meeting Vinicius\u2019 delicate lob into the box.<\/p>\n
Paqueta, Raphinha and Richarlison all spurned golden opportunities in four minutes of first-half injury time as the South Koreans threatened to be swept aside.<\/p>\n
But to their credit Paulo Bento\u2019s side rallied after the break with Son Heung-min tearing into the box moments after the break where he was denied by Alisson with a good save.<\/p>\n
The Liverpool stopper was forced into another fine save just past the hour mark after Hwang strode in from the right and hit a shot that was heading for the bottom corner.<\/p>\n
Korea reduced the deficit as Brazil wound down but there was still time for Dani Alves to come close before the final whistle confirmed a weekend quarter-final against 2018 runners-up Croatia.<\/p>\n
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