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Philippe Coutinho and Neymar both struck in stoppage time to earn Brazil their first win at the 2018 World Cup as they beat Costa Rica 2-0 to edge towards the last 16.<\/p>\nPhilippe Coutinho and Neymar both struck in stoppage time to earn Brazil their first win at the 2018 World Cup as they beat Costa Rica 2-0 to edge towards the last 16.<\/p>\n
The five-time winners and the competition\u2019s most decorated nation were on course for their second successive draw in Russia, with Neymar denied a second-half penalty upon VAR review and Gabriel Jesus hitting the crossbar.<\/p>\n
However, Coutinho arrived to poke an effort between Keylor Navas\u2019 legs at the start of stoppage time before Neymar converted substitute Douglas Costa\u2019s cross to earn Tite\u2019s men a crucial victory and ensure their opponents cannot quailfy from Group E.<\/p>\n
Yet it was down the other flank, where Marcelo and Neymar were operating, where they were nearly caught out early on.<\/p>\n
Celtic full-back Cristian Gamboa reached the byline and pulled the ball back for Celso Borges to steer a first-time shot wide of the post.<\/p>\n
Brazil were failing to sparkle again, with Neymar once more largely ineffective, though they did have a goal disallowed when an offside Jesus collected Marcelo\u2019s shot and steered home.<\/p>\n
That appeared to lift Tite\u2019s side and Marcelo and Coutinho were both narrowly off target with shots from range before the former brought a save out of his Real Madrid colleague Navas.<\/p>\n
Costa replaced Chelsea winger Willian at the start of the second period and there was immediately a greater urgency from Brazil.<\/p>\n
A Jesus header came back off the woodwork, Coutinho\u2019s effort was diverted past the post by Gamboa and Navas tipped Neymar\u2019s shot over the top as Brazil turned the screw.<\/p>\n
With less than 20 minutes to go, and Liverpool forward Roberto Firmino now on the pitch, Neymar seized upon a loose touch from Gamboa and lined up a shot from the edge of the box that he whipped wide.<\/p>\n
It was looking like it might not be his, or Brazil\u2019s, day but he thought that might be about to change with 13 minutes to go when referee Bjorn Kuipers pointed to the spot as Neymar fell backwards when trying to cut across Giancarlo Gonzalez.<\/p>\n
Los Ticos were incensed and the decision was overturned upon a VAR review. Though Gonzalez had grabbed at Neymar\u2019s shirt while slipping, there was minimal contact and the Paris St Germain star\u2019s dramatic flop was considered to be unnecessary.<\/p>\n
Neymar then earned a booking for punching the ball into the ground as his frustrations came to the fore, yet all of that was alleviated with two late goals in stoppage time.<\/p>\n
Firmino\u2019s header back across the box was not brought under control by Jesus but Coutinho arrived at the right moment to stab in past Navas, causing Tite to tumble onto the pitch in celebration.<\/p>\n
Neymar then looked determined to make a positive impact on the game \u2013 at one point flicking the ball over a defender\u2019s head near the corner flag \u2013 before volleying in Costa\u2019s cross in one of the game\u2019s final acts.<\/p>\n