Brazil's Cunha scores twice in 3-0 win as Haiti eliminated at World Cup

Brazil forward Matheus Cunha rewarded manager ‌Carlo Ancelotti’s backing with his first two goals at a World Cup as the five-times champions cruised to a 3-0 victory over Haiti on Friday to eliminate their ​opponents.

Vinicius Junior also scored in the first half and was the creator for both of Cunha's strikes before an apparent leg injury forced winger Raphinha off in the 40th minute.

Overall, it was a much-improved effort from the Selecao’s 1-1 draw against Morocco to open their tournament and a result that puts Brazil on four ​points above the Atlas Lions in Group C on goal difference.

“It was what I expected from this match to have a better quality of this match,” Ancelotti said. “Fewer ⁠mistakes. More effectiveness at the forward (positions) and more control at the back. And I think this was a good match.”

Haiti ‌became ‌the ​first team at the World Cup out of contention for the knockout phase after Morocco’s 1-0 win over Scotland, who have three points, earlier on Friday. Haiti are bottom with no points.

Even so, they ⁠clearly enjoyed their second appearance at the finals and ​first since 1974 and, despite a lineup that suggested a low ​block, showed admirable endeavour in front of a vocal red-and-blue-clad minority.

“They showed that they deserved to be here at this World Cup,” Haiti ‌manager Sebastian Migne said of his players. “And unfortunately, we ​played against Brazil, and there was too much of a gap.”

Centre back Ricardo Ade came closest to scoring for the Caribbean ⁠side after halftime when his flashing, near-post header from ⁠a corner forced Alisson into ​a reaction save.

Cunha was one of two changes by Ancelotti, slotted in for Igor Thiago at centre-forward. With the Manchester United man involved, the