Endrick nets stoppage-time winner as Brazil down Mexico in friendly
In the first of two friendlies ahead of the 2024 Copa América tournament, which begins later this month, Brazil needed less than five minutes to take the lead.
Still yet to open his goalscoring account on the international stage, Fulham’s Andreas Pereira rewrote that wrong in sublime style as he left Edson Álvarez and then Johan Vásquez on the deck before firing a confident finish past Julio González that nestled nicely into the corner of the net.
Having not got their names on the scoresheet across their previous four H2Hs, things looked bleak for Mexico in front of goal.
However, Gerardo Arteaga eventually forced Allison into making his first save of the match in the 22nd minute as he kept out the defender’s strike with a brilliant one-handed save.
Douglas Luiz then failed to trouble Mexico goalkeeper González with a wayward effort away from goal, as Brazil concluded the first half in Texas with a slender lead.
After taking only five minutes to break the deadlock, Brazil did not need much longer following the restart to beat González again.
This time, it took Pereira’s fellow Premier League compatriot, Gabriel Martinelli, nine minutes to double the Seleção’s tally as he completed the simple task of slotting Yan Couto’s pin-point pass into an unguarded net.
Club América attacker Julián Quiñones set up an intriguing final 17 minutes by reducing the deficit with a clinical close-range finish.
However, despite having the likes of recent UEFA Champions League winner Vinícius Júnior and Bruno Guimarães now on the pitch, Mexico grabbed a 93rd-minute equaliser as Guillermo Martínez Ayala fired home the rebound after his teammate’s header had struck the post.
Amazingly, Endrick won it for Brazil no less than three minutes later as the striker celebrated being awarded the iconic number nine shirt for the upcoming Copa América tournament by exquisitely heading home Vinícius’ delicious delivery into the danger zone.
The victory leaves Brazil undefeated across their previous three matches - all in non-competitive encounters - ahead of their final friendly against the host nation of 2024 Copa América, the United States, in the early hours of Thursday morning.
Meanwhile, Mexico will head into the competition after suffering two defeats across their three pre-tournament friendlies, seemingly looking like Jaime Lozano's new-look squad is already up against it.
Flashscore Man of the Match: Andreas Pereira (Brazil)
