Strikes by Coutinho and Neymar help guide Brazil past Costa Rica in Russia

Brazil left it late to score twice past costa Rica and earn their first win in the FIFA World Cup in Russia today.

Dramatic goals by Philippe Coutinho and Neymar helped Brazil break Central American hearts in St Petersburg as Costa Rica were eliminated from the World Cup.

The result leaves five-times world champions Brazil with four points, from two games, after they drew 1-1 with Switzerland in their opening match.

The clock had ticked past 90 minutes when Marcelo crossed from the left and substitute Roberto Firmino headed the ball back across goal to Gabriel Jesus.

Jesus’s first touch took the ball away from the defender and Coutinho raced in to poke past Keylor Navas from 6M out and claim his second goal of the tournament.

Neymar added the second with practically the last kick of the game, racing on to Jesus’s square ball following a quick counter-attack as Costa Rica were forced to push for the equaliser.

The forward, who thought he had won a penalty in the 77th only for the referee to reverse the decision after consultation with the video assistant referee (VAR), was overcome by emotion on the whistle, covering his face as tears streamed down his cheeks.

Costa Rica’s flat-back five kept Neymar on the periphery for long periods, with Johan Venegas and Cristian Gamboa both man-marking him out of the game as Brazil found it hard to carve out chances in the first half.

Marcelo’s tame shot straight at Navas in the 41st was the first effort on target from either side before the break, and the team went into halftime with the boos and whistles of their own fans ringing in their ears.

Celso Borges spurned arguably the best chance of the first period for Costa Rica when he ran on to Gamboa’s cut back but shot wide from 8M out.

The result means Brazil have avoided the ignominy of equalling their longest winless run at the World Cup.