Stoppage-time goals from Philippe Coutinho and Neymar snatched Brazil a 2-0 win over Costa Rica in their World Cup Group D match in Saint-Petersberg on Friday.
The five-time winners seemed poised for another frustrating draw, especially after a penalty awarded to Neymar was overturned by referee Bjorn Kuipers after consulting VAR.
However, Coutinho’s 91st-minute strike rescued the Selacao an important victory which puts them top of the group, and Neymar soon struck to consign Costa Rica to elimination.
Costa Rica had the best chance of the first half on 13 minutes when Celtic defender Cristian Gamboa burst past Paulinho and pulled a cross back for Celso Borges, who stroked a side-footed shot narrowly wide.
The Selecao began to move through the gears after the opening 25 minutes and had a goal disallowed when an expert touch-and-finish on the volley from Gabriel Jesus was in vain because of the offside flag.
Passed fit despite missing training this week, Neymar had a decent opening moments later when his run off the left was spotted by Coutinho, but his hesitation allowed Keylor Navas to smother Brazil’s talisman.
It looked for a long time as though Navas would keep Brazil at bay as he kept out Real Madrid teammate Marcelo and Coutinho before the break, and there were better saves to come in the second period.
Only a fingertip over the crossbar denied Neymar when he met Douglas Costa’s cutback sweetly on the volley on 55 minutes, and the Costa Rica goalkeeper stood tall again when Coutinho ran onto a Gabriel Jesus layoff.
When Navas was beaten, Brazil were frustrated by other means as Jesus thumped a header against the woodwork, with a seemingly-simple Coutinho follow-up deflected around the post by a despairing Johnny Acosta.