Raphinha video: Watch his stunning goal in Brazil's 4-0 win over Paraguay - Yorkshire Post 2/2/22
Raphinha scored his third goal on the international stage in the early hours of Wednesday morning as Brazil cruised past Paraguay.
By Ben McKenna
The Seleção eased to a 4-0 victory in the World Cup
qualifying clash, with their place in Qatar later this year already secured.
Raphinha started the game on the right of a front three for
Tite's side, partnered by Matheus Cunha down the middle and Vinicius Junior on
the left.
He opened the scoring for Brazil as he beautifully
controlled a ball over the top of the defence by Marquinhos before cutting
inside the defender and firing the ball in at the near post.
It remained 1-0 to Brazil at half-time before second-half
goals from Aston Villa's Philippe Countinho, and substitutes Anthony and Rodygo
sealed the win for the hosts.
Countinho's goal was one of the highlights of the evening,
with the Villa loanee firing into the top corner from outside the area.
Raphinha played a total of 82 minutes in his seventh
international appearance before being subbed off for Everton Ribeiro. He did
leave the pitch in some discomfort but there has been no update on the severity
of his injury.
It was the final game of the latest round of qualifying
matches in South America, giving Raphinha plenty of time to return to Thorp
Arch and prepare for the Whites' trip to Aston Villa a week today (Wednesday,
February 9), providing the injury that forced him off the pitch does not force
him to miss the contest.
