From Montrose To The Maracana

Chelsea Winger Willian Pulls The Strings As Brazil Thump Turkey

Posted on 12 November, 2014

Brazil made it five wins out of five since the humiliation of the World Cup with another convincing win this time against a hapless Turkey side in Istanbul.

Neymar, who scored all four against Japan last month, chipped in with two more goals to take his international tally to 15 for the year. He opened the scoring on 20 minutes after racing on to a well place ball over the Turkish defence by Fernandinho. From that moment on there only ever looked like being one winner.

However the star of the show was not Neymar but the occasionally maligned and often frustrating Willian. The Chelsea man put in easily his best performance for the Seleção on a night where everything he touched seemed to turn to gold.

Just minutes after the opener, the 26 year old winger made a surging run from inside his own half before teeing up Danilo whose cross was diverted into his own goal by Semih Kaya in the decidedly shaky Turkish defence. His touch denied the lurking Luiz Adriano a debut goal after his impressive form for Shakhtar this season earned the forward a first national call-up.

Turkey pressed and probed with midfield duo Arda Turan and Hamit Altıntop providing occasional glimpses of quality. The former brought out a top save from Diego Alves who was assured in his first international appearance in 18 months. Turkey went close again moments later when Altintop’s cross flashed off a Turkish head and inches wide of the Brazil goal.

Moments before half-time though, Willian all but sealed the win with a cool finish after a rare misplaced Neymar touch bobbled its way through to him. Turkey left the pitch to boos inside a packed Ataturk Olympic Stadium and although the scoreline perhaps flattered Brazil the gulf in class was plain for all to see.

As the Second Half wore on, Willian’s confidence grew and grew with every successful contribution. First he produced an outrageous piece of skill to leave two defenders for dead and eventually earn a corner for his team. From the resulting set-piece a thumping David Luiz header was well kept out by Volkan Demirel in goal for the hosts.

Minutes later he sprayed a glorious 60 yard cross field ball to pick out his Chelsea team-mate Oscar and as the match reached the hour mark, he was at it again. This time it was a sublime pass with the outside of his right boot that set Neymar away and the Barcelona man duly did the rest to make it 4-0.

The game petered out after that, as friendlies often do, with an array of substitutions for both sides and little in the way of further goalmouth action. Douglas Costa and Fred (not that one) became the second and third Shakhtar Donetsk players of the night to make their international bows as Dunga continues to experiment with his line-up. There was also a first appearance for Hoffenheim’s goalscoring midfielder Roberto Firmino but neither side came close to adding to the scoreline after Diego Alves had made another smart save on 71 minutes.

Brazil go to Vienna next Tuesday to face an in-form Austria who may provide a slightly sterner test but few would bet against Dunga’s side making it six wins from six. It will take more than friendly wins to banish the painful memories of July but his side look well placed to make a very strong challenge at next year’s Copa America in Chile.

 
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