Brazil Thrashes Haiti as Matheus Cunha Emerges as Its New No. 9

Brazil moved to ease the pressure from its underwhelming opening draw with Morocco by beating Haiti overnight, between Friday and Saturday, in its second match. Anything short of a win would have left the team under heavy strain heading into the final round.

Despite an unimpressive first half, the Selecao went into the break up 3-0 thanks to two goals from Matheus Cunha and one from Vinicius. Cunha, a Manchester United forward who had come off the bench in Brazil’s first game, started this time and delivered a major response. The 27-year-old had scored only once in 25 appearances for the national team before this match, and he tripled that total in one night.

Brazilian media hailed him as the team’s new No. 9. The page Noite de Copa wrote that after the 2020 Olympics many expected Cunha to become Brazil’s key striker by 2022, but that in 2026 he has arrived at the World Cup and is answering those expectations. Local coverage also said he contributes far beyond his goals, repeatedly drifting out of the center forward position to the left wing and taking part in the team’s buildup. Even when he looks more like a playmaker than a striker, the reports said, he stays calm in front of goal.

The Athletic described one of his finishes as a “spectacular finish,” while FOX Deportes said he did it again with an “amazing finish” and called him unstoppable.