Matheus Cunha needed just 13 minutes to turn Brazil’s World Cup opener from a competitive fixture into a comfortable evening. The striker found the net twice in the first half, at the 23rd and 36th minutes, as Brazil dismantled Haiti 3-0 in their Group C clash on June 19.
Cunha makes the most of his starting spot
Cunha’s selection was itself a storyline. He replaced Igor Thiago as Brazil’s central striker, slotting into an attacking trident alongside Vinícius Júnior and Raphinha. For Haiti, making their first World Cup finals appearance in over four decades, it was exactly that.
His first goal came in the 23rd minute, settling any early nerves the Seleção might have carried into the tournament. His second arrived at the 36th minute mark, just 13 minutes later, effectively ending the contest as a competitive affair before the teams even reached the tunnel for halftime.
Brazil added a third goal to complete the 3-0 victory, though it was Cunha’s brace that defined the match.
