Brazil’s World Cup preparations gathered pace as they cruised past Russia 3-0 in Moscow. Miranda, Philippe Coutinho and Paulinho scored during a 13-minute second-half goal rush at the Luzhniki Stadium on Friday.
It was the ideal warm-up for the five-time World Cup winners against this summer’s tournament hosts. Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus also continued his recovery from a knee injury as he played 65 minutes before being replaced by Liverpool’s Roberto Firmino.
Russia open the World Cup against Saudi Arabia on 14 June and will need better finishing than they mustered in the first half here. Roman Zobnin volleyed woefully wide when well placed and Aleksey Miranchuk then blew what was arguably a better chance nine minutes before the break when he skied over from six yards.
Russia were made to pay for their profligacy in the second half as Brazil upped the tempo. Paulinho was the first to fire a warning when he was denied by Igor Akinfeev from Willian’s pass three minutes after the break.
Akinfeev then produced a superb save when Willian’s effort deflected off Aleksandr Samedov and the goalkeeper turned the ball over with his head. His resistance was broken when he parried Thiago Silva’s header from the resulting short corner to Miranda who converted from close range.
Paulinho should have made it 2-0 when he missed his kick in front of goal after good work from Coutinho to allow Akinfeev to save. But Coutinho did double Brazil’s lead after 65 minutes when he scored from the spot after his Barcelona team-mate Paulinho had been brought down by Aleksandr Golovkin.
Paulinho made it 3-0 three minutes later, heading in Willian’s hanging cross. Miranchuk almost grabbed a consolation after Dani Alves cleared the ball off the line late on.
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