Tuesday’s 3-3 friendly match between Brazil and Spain was exciting and at times heated as Brazil pulled out a late equaliser driven by young players Endrick and Lamine Yamal.
Tuesday’s 3-3 friendly match between Brazil and Spain was exciting and at times heated as Brazil pulled off a late equalizer driven by youthful players Endrick and Lamine Yamal. After the hosts had grabbed a late lead, Lucas Paqueta scored a stoppage-time penalty to deny La Roja victory at the Santiago Bernabeu. In a thrilling match played inside a confined structure in the Spanish capital, Spain’s captain Rodri scored two highly contested penalties of his own.
After Dani Olmo’s excellent individual goal extended Spain’s lead, the Manchester City midfielder opened the scoring in the 12th minute from the penalty spot following Yamal’s incredible fall in the box.
Five minutes into the second half, teenage wonder Endrick tied the score for Brazil after substitute Unai Simon of Spain made a mistake that allowed Rodrygo to draw one back before halftime.
After Dani Carvajal was clipped by Lucas Beraldo, Rodri scored his second spot kick late in the game, but Paqueta had the last word.
The match proved to be a thrilling match between two of football’s heavyweight nations. It was organized to help combat racism after numerous cases of abuse aimed at Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Junior in Spain.
For the first time, Vinicius captained Brazil, but he was mainly kept under wraps while Endrick, his teenage countryman and future Los Blancos teammate, and Barcelona rookie Yamal continued to relish the spotlight.
“It’s a shame it got away from us in the last second, it was a penalty we could have avoided,” Rodri stated to Teledeporte.
Alvaro Morata, the team’s normal captain, gave Rodri the armband this time in honor of the midfielder’s grandfather, who passed away recently.
“I dedicated (the goals) to my grandfather, for everything that he taught me,” said Rodri.
In Selecao coach Dorival Junior’s second game in charge, La Roja performed admirably in the first half, hardly giving five-time World Cup winners Brazil a sniff.
Coach Luis de la Fuente of Spain commented, “I’m angry not to win a game in which we were superior,” but he expressed encouragement ahead of this summer’s Euro 2024.
“The positive thing … is that we have come out reinforced, the team is growing and giving the feeling that this side can go very far.”
“Among the greatest”
Although the Barcelona winger was lucky to escape with his head injuries after falling easily under a collision from Joao Gomes, Yamal got the penalty that Rodri converted for the first goal.
The 16-year-old, who is becoming more and more famous with each game, contributed to Olmo’s second goal, which was expertly scored after amazing footwork.
“(Yamal) had a brilliant performance, but I like to be careful, that’s the best we can give these youngsters,” De la Fuente added.
Just before halftime, Rodrygo pounced with a lob after Simon recklessly gave up the ball, allowing Brazil to tie the score.
Endrick, who had scored the game-winning goal in a friendly match against England on Saturday, was substituted by Dorival at the half, marking his debut at the stadium of his future team, Real Madrid.
After a corner was headed into his path, the 17-year-old sensation quickly scored his first goal in the Spanish capital by volleying home.
“If he completes his development he will be one of the greats,” Dorival stated.
When Rodri hammered home his second penalty in the closing moments following Carvajal’s collision with Beraldo that sent him sprawling to the ground, Spain believed they had triumphed, but Brazil would not give up.
Deep into stoppage time, Carvajal fell and viciously pulled back Galeno’s leg, earning the visitors a penalty of their own.
With almost the final kick of the match, Paqueta, who had earlier been fortunate to escape penalty after swinging his arm at Marc Cucurella, sent Simon the wrong way to equalize.
“A game against Brazil is never friendly, both sides want to win, we gave everything on the pitch with and without the ball,” stated Olmo.
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“In the end it didn’t happen, but we have to be proud of what we did.”