YOKOHAMA, Japan - Brazil striker Richarlison struck a stunning hat-trick inside 30 minutes as the defending Olympic champions beat Germany 4-2 in their opening Group D game in the men's tournament at the International Stadium on Thursday.
Brazil should have had the outcome decided by the interval given the amount of chances they created but Germany struck twice in the second half, despite going down to 10 men in the 63rd minute.
Brazil found plenty of space from the outset and Matheus Cunha could have put them ahead in the fifth minute but his low shot at the near post was kept out by keeper Florian Müller. Two minutes later though the Brazilians had the lead when Richarlison burst through the inside right channel and after his first shot was parried he made no mistake with his second attempt, drilling the ball past Müller.
¡A ESO LO LLEVARON !@richarlison97 demuestra por qué fue elegido como refuerzo para los #OlimpicosTelemundo y la samba se hace presente en #Tokyo2020
#Brasil 1-0 #Alemania pic.twitter.com/wIQJ54zFgW— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 22, 2021
The German defense was all at sea and Müller was busy again to foil Richarlison as the forward attempted to round him and then kept out Claudinho's effort from the loose ball. It was no surprise when Brazil doubled their advantage with Guilherme Arana, in acres of space down the left, taking his time to pick out Richarlison in the middle and the Everton striker's powerful header flashed past Müller.
¡ES BAILE DE BRASIL !
Nadie marcaba a @richarlison97 que solito remató de cabeza y ya tiene doblete en los #OlimpicosTelemundo
#Brasil 2-0 #Alemania pic.twitter.com/brfXoBXiec— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 22, 2021
Richarlison completed his hat-trick with a superbly taken solo goal, curling the ball into the far corner after being set up by Matheus Cunha.
¡No hay dos sin tres !
⚽ @richarlison97 marca un golazo y está liquidando a Alemania con su hat-trick #OlimpicosTelemundo
#Brasil 3-0 #Alemania pic.twitter.com/Mz5yeDYms5— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 22, 2021
It should have been 4-0 shortly before the interval but Cunha saw his penalty kick well saved by Müller after Benjamin Henrichs handled the ball inside the box.
¡Sin Müller sería una goleada escandalosa !
El arquero alemán evita la goleada atajándole el penal a Matheus Cunha#OlimpicosTelemundo
#Brasil 3-0 #Alemania pic.twitter.com/pvSxADbGwX— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 22, 2021
The chances kept coming for Brazil after the break but Stefan Kuntz's Germany side did manage to get a goal back, against the run of play, with a 57th minute Nadiem Amiri effort which keeper Santos should have kept out.
¡No los den por derrotados !
Amiri rompe el cero y @DFB_Team no se rinde#OlimpicosTelemundo
#Brasil 3-1 #Alemania pic.twitter.com/ePh6Swpshr— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 22, 2021
A miserable night for the Germans got worse when Max Arnold was sent off in the 63rd minute, rather harshly, for a second yellow card.
¡Alemania se queda con 10 !
Maximilian Arnold se va del partido al recibir su segunda tarjeta amarilla #OlimpicosTelemundo
#Brasil 3-1 #Alemania pic.twitter.com/W0LuzrGVU2— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 22, 2021
Germany gave themselves a lifeline six minutes from the end when Ragnar Ache powered in a header from a David Raum cross to make it 3-2.
¡Ragnar Ache pone a soñar a Alemania !
El alemán remató de cabeza y pese a estar con 10 hombres, @DFB_Team sueñan con la igualada #OlimpicosTelemundo
#Brasil 3-2 #Alemania pic.twitter.com/IATyDGZfob— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 22, 2021
But with Germany pushing forward, Brazil caught them on the break in stoppage time, Paulinho finishing off a counter-attack with a fine shot into the top corner.
¡Para que duela !
Paulinho que juega en la Bundesliga, sentencia el partido y la goleada de @CBF_Futebol a @DFB_Team #OlimpicosTelemundo
#Brasil 4-2 #Alemania pic.twitter.com/xlZt7d6J9F— Telemundo Deportes (@TelemundoSports) July 22, 2021
The match was a repeat of the gold medal game from Rio five years ago and was played at the venue where Brazil beat Germany in the World Cup final in 2002.
(Reporting by Simon Evans, editing by Ed Osmond and Ken Ferris)
