Brazil ease past South Korea, Croatia edge Japan on penalties

DOHA - Brazil will face Croatia in the quarterfinals of Qatar World Cup after both sides took very different routes to the last-8.

While Croatia needed the drama of a penalty shootout against Japan, Brazil cruised past South Korea 4-1.

Vinicius Jr opened the scoring in the seventh minute with a flick into the top corner and Neymar, back in the side after his ankle injury, added the second from the penalty spot.

Richarlison started the move which ended with him netting Brazil's third in the 29th minute and with South Korea reeling, Lucas Paquetta ran onto Raphinha's pass to slam home the fourth six minutes later.

It is the first time for a team to net four goals in the first half in the World Cup knockout stage since Germany did it to Brazil in the semifinal of Brazil 2014.

The second half was bound to be an anti-climax after that, although South Korea's substitute Paik Seungho sent a bullet half volley home with 15 minutes remaining.