Brazil shines in Kolkata friendly against India

  • Estevao and Pedro registered a goal and an assist apiece and Samuel Lino scored twice off the bench, as Brazil beat India 4-0 in an eagerly anticipated friendly in Kolkata.

The result meant Carlo Ancelotti's Selecao ended the international break with an unbeaten record and no other injury concerns to speak of, after Raphinha's midweek withdrawal from the squad.

India started positively with Apuia trying his luck from distance, but the midfielder could not test Brazil's debutant goalkeeper Pedro Morisco, while Vinicius Junior drew a solid near-post save from Gurpreet Singh Sandhu at the other end.

The Selecao slowly grew more dominant as the first half wore on, and went in front after 28 minutes, with Sandhu unable to keep out Estevao's rasping 20-yard drive despite getting a touch on the ball down to his left.

The Chelsea man continued to threaten as his cross was headed against the right-hand post by Pedro, but that same duo combined for Brazil's second goal in the 42nd minute as Estevao's clever reverse pass put the Flamengo striker clean through, and he powered his finish past Sandhu.

Apuia reacted quicker than any yellow shirts when Sandhu blocked Vinicius's drive, and the Real Madrid superstar was one of several players to be withdrawn at half-time as both coaches rang the changes.

Vinicius's replacement, Lino, did not need long to make an impact, as he curled a lovely finish into the far corner just before the hour mark, having been found by Pedro's instinctive flick.

India looked a beaten team from that moment on, but Ryan Williams had two chances to give the home fans something to cheer, forcing Mauro Junior into a desperate goalline clearance, then firing narrowly wide from the right side of the area shortly afterwards.

There was another goal to come for the visitors, though, as Lino menacingly cut inside from the left flank before drilling past substitute goalkeeper Prabhsukhan Gill in stoppage-time.