Five-star Brazil buries Bolivia in goals
Roberto Firmino scored twice as Brazil eased past Bolivia 5-0 in a dominant display to kick off its 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifying campaign.
Brazil barely raised a sweat inits opening CONMEBOL qualifier on Saturday (AEST), outclassing Bolivia thanks to Firmino's brace, while Marquinhos and Philippe Coutinho were also on target, to go with a Jose Carrasco own goal.
Tite's Brazil had not played since its 3-0 win over Korea Republic in a November friendly after the coronavirus pandemic forced FIFA World Cup qualifying to be postponed in March, but the Selecao did not look like a team featuring for the first time in 2020.
Brazil dominated from the outset and should have scored two goals inside three minutes, but both Everton and Marquinhos wasted golden opportunities in the pouring Sao Paulo rain.
Marquinhos, who glanced a header wide in the third minute, made no mistake in the 16th minute as he got on the end of a Danilo cross and headed powerfully past Bolivia goalkeeper Carlos Lampe to open the scoring.
Bolivia could not get close to Brazil and the visitors almost conceded again after Coutinho's shot from the top of the penalty area took a wicked deflection and skidded off the turf, forcing Lampe into a fine diving save.
Bolivia's non-existent defending was exposed when Renan Lodi made an unmarked run and whipped a ball across the six-yard box for Firmino to tap home.
Brazil continued where it left off in the second half after Firmino netted within four minutes of the restart, Neymar playing the ball to his team-mate, who routinely poked home.
Weverton, who was playing in the absence of injured number one goalkeeper Alisson, had nothing to do until he was called into action by Bruno Miranda's rising shot in the 50th minute.
Brazil showed no mercy as Carrasco deflected the ball into his own net past the hour mark, before Neymar provided the cross for the on-rushing Coutinho to head home emphatically with 17 minutes remaining.
Brazil will next face Peru on Wednesday (AEST), while Bolivia hosts Lionel Messi's Argentina on the same day and will hope for a better display than it managed here.
