Brazil 2-0 Mexico: Neymar & Firmino lead Brazil into last 8 for the 7th straight WC

Brazil were far from their fluid best against Mexico, but Neymar and substitute Roberto Firmino booked them a spot in the last eight.

Match Events

6' Neymar's powerful shot saved by Ochoa!

18' Lozano's effort is blocked by Filipe!

22' Another counter attack from Mexico!

25' Neymar's shot blocked!

27' Brazil cause numerous troubles in Mexico box!

30' Alvarez makes a timely tackle on Neymar!

33' Jesus' close range strike saved by Ochoa!

38' Yellow Card! Alvarez booked

43' Yellow Card! Filipe Luis booked

48' How can Ochoa save this from Coutinho?

48' Gallardo's shot wide out!

51' GOAL! Brazil 1-0 Mexico (Neymar)

Neymar starts the move off with a beautiful back heel to Willian, who bursts around the outside before playing a low cross towards the back post. 

There are yellow shirts queuing up to tap the ball into the back of the net and it's Neymar who gets the final touch for his 57th international goal.

55' Yellow Card! H. Herrera booked

59' Casemiro is yellow carded and will miss the next match

59' Paulinho's shot saved by Ochoa!

61' Vela hits a curler but is saved by Alisson

67' Neymar's shot wide out!

71' Neymar rolling on the floor screaming after a touch from Layun!

77' Yellow Card! C. Salcedo booked for fouling Neymar.

88' GOAL! Brazil 2-0 Mexico (Firmino)

Game, set and match to Brazil. Neymar beats the offside trap and bears down on goal. 

He takes the shot on early but Ochoa gets a boot to the ball. The rebound falls kindly for Firmino, who taps home from close range to spark wild Brazilian celebrations.

Match reports

Neymar's strike and a late second from Roberto Firmino saw a strangely low-key Brazil edge past Mexico 2-0 to book a spot in the World Cup quarter-finals.

Tite's men are yet to hit full stride at Russia 2018, and on this evidence they still have more to come, but Neymar's 51st-minute goal and Firmino's tap-in after coming off the bench means the tournament favourites progressed with relative comfort in the end, and avoided the early exit that has already befallen the likes of Spain, Germany and Argentina.

Mexico were the dominant force in the opening 20 minutes in Samara, but they were unable to make their superiority count and eventually allowed their muted opponents to scrap their way into the game.

After Mexican goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa had been called into action to deny Gabriel Jesus and Philippe Coutinho, Neymar finally made the breakthrough at the back post - netting his second goal of the tournament shortly after half-time, when Willian's scuffed cross found its way through to him.

The margin became more comfortable with two minutes left when Firmino - just on as a replacement for Coutinho - added the finishing touch after Neymar had lead a counter-attack. 

The only blemish for the five-time champions was the second-half booking for Casemiro, which rules him out of the quarter-final clash against either Belgium or Japan.

Mexico, meanwhile, will look back fondly on their opening 1-0 win over Germany, but are now left to rue a seventh consecutive exit at the last-16 stage.

Line-ups

Brazil XI: Miranda, Filipe Luís, Willian, Thiago Silva, Fagner, Paulinho, Coutinho, Alisson, Casemiro, Neymar, Gabriel Jesus

Subs: Renato Augusto, Geromel, Cássio, Marcelo, Fernandinho, Taison, Danilo, Roberto Firmino, Marquinhos, Fred, Ederson

Mexico XI: Guillermo Ochoa, Rafael Márquez, Andrés Guardado, Carlos Vela, Hugo Ayala, Chicharito, Héctor Herrera, Carlos Salcedo, Hirving Lozano, Jesús Gallardo, Edson Álvarez

Subs: Jesús Corona, Alfredo Talavera, Oribe Peralta, Giovani dos Santos, Marco Fabián, Javier Aquino, Miguel Layún, Jonathan dos Santos, Jesús Manuel Corona, Raúl Jiménez, Erick Gutiérrez