Richarlison scored a hat-trick in the first half for Brazil against Germany, becoming the first Premier League player to score an Olympic hat-trick.
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Brazil beat Germany 4-2 in the Group D opener in Yokohama on Thursday. It was a rematch of the Rio Olympics men’s football final. Richarlison scored a hat-trick in the first half. Germany scored two goals in the second half before Paulinho’s injury time strike sealed the three points for Brazil. Brazil completely dominated the first half and the scoreline could have been much worse for the 10-man Germans. Goalkeeper Mueller Florian made a number of good saves to keep them in the game.
Richarlison opened the scoring in the seventh minute after Germany defender Amos Pieper’s slip allowed the Everton striker to run clear on goal. His first attempt was saved by Florian but he smashed in the rebound to make the score 1-0 for Brazil.
A close range header from Richarlison after 22 minutes made the score 2-0. The 24-year-old forward then completed his hat-trick on the half-hour mark. His shot to the top right corner took a deflection off Pieper and flew in.
Meanwhile Matheus Cunha missed a penalty for Brazil in the first-half stoppage time. After the break, Germany pulled one back through Nadiem Amiri as some clumsy goalkeeping allowed Amiri to make the score 1-3 for Germany.
The German skipper Maximillian Arnold had a day to forget as he was lazy with his passing and immobile defensively before receiving a second booking for a clash with Dani Alves. But the 10-man Germany made things a bit nervy for Brazil with a second goal through Ache in the 84th minute. However, Paulinho finished a breakaway move into the top corner to make sure of the points for Brazil.
It was a feisty game with five different German players picking up yellow cards, challenges, trips, dives and pushes were routine.
Meanwhile in the other match of the day France were beaten 4-1 by Mexico. New Zealand overcame South Korea courtesy of Chris Wood’s solitary goal and Ivory Coast beat Saudi Arabia 2-1.
Hosts Japan edged South Africa 1-0 and Spain were held to a goalless draw by Egypt.
