Five-time champions Brazil reached the FIFA World Cup Qatar 2022 Round of 16 when they beat Switzerland 1-0 in a Group G match Monday.
Brazil relied on defensive midfielder Casemiro's spectacular volley in the 83rd minute to end Switzerland's resilient show at Stadium 974.
After France, Brazil became the second country to seal a spot in the last 16 with a match to spare. Brazil played without their star player, Neymar Jr, who is nursing an ankle injury.
Casemiro's late goal won him the man of the match award and spared Brazil's blushes after a scrappy performance that saw them hit plenty of loose passes before he struck his brilliant finish seven minutes from the end of normal time.
"It is very clear that my very first objective is to support the team...to put out fires wherever they may be. But nevertheless, if there is an opportunity to take a little shot on goal, I think that's very important," the 30-year-old told a news conference.
"Regardless of the goal scored, I think it's very important to have helped the team, when we win, we all win together, when we lose, we all lose together," he added.
CAMEROON, SERBIA IN 6-GOAL THRILLER
In another Group G tie Monday, Cameroon drew 3-3 with Serbia in a scintillating clash at Al Janoub Stadium. Jean-Charles Victor Castelletto (29), Vincent Aboubakar (63) and Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting (66) scored for Cameroon. For Serbia, the goals were scored by Strahinja Pavlovic (45+1), S Milinkovic-Savic (45+3) and Aleksandar Mitrovic (53).
Cameroon took the lead in the first half, only for Serbia to find the net thrice after that. But there was more drama in store as Cameroon scored twice after that to produce one of the most entertaining matches of the tournament so far.
Brazil lead the group with six points, followed by Switzerland with three points, and Cameroon and Serbia with one point each.
PORTUGAL IN LAST 16 WITH WIN OVER URUGUAY
A second-half brace from Bruno Fernandes sent Portugal through to the last 16 of the World Cup Monday to join France and Brazil after a 2-0 win over a lacklustre Uruguay at Lusail Stadium.
Fernandes scored with a cross intended for Cristiano Ronaldo that sailed fortuitously into the net on 54 minutes and converted a spot kick in stoppage time (90+3) to put his side into the knockout stages with a match remaining.
Portugal had the lion's share of the possession and dominated for most of the Group H match, but struggled to create clear-cut chances until the second half in a game where Uruguay looked jaded and out of sorts.
GHANA HOLD OFF BATTLING SOUTH KOREA
In another high-scoring clash, Ghana survived a furious late siege of their goal to revive their World Cup chances in a dramatic match at Education City Stadium Monday, holding off South Korea to secure a 3-2 victory that was greeted with as much relief as it was celebration.
The African side earned their first points of the tournament and can still reach the second round on the back of two goals from Mohamed Kudus and one goal from Mohamed Salisu (24), as well as desperate defending in a roller-coaster match at the Education City Stadium.
For South Korea, Cho Gue-sung (58 and 61) with a double was the star performer in the Group H tie.
While Portugal are through with six points, Ghana has three points and South Korea and Uruguay have one point each.
