Brazil 2–0 Senegal
Despite having less possession, Carlo Ancelotti’s side dominated in attack and claimed the win.
Brazil came out firing, taking control of the match in the first half with wave after wave of attacks. Their intensity dropped a bit after the break, but they still kept a clean sheet and tasted their first-ever victory over Senegal.
The Seleção defeated Senegal 2–0 in Saturday’s friendly at London’s Emirates Stadium. Estevão opened the scoring, and Casemiro doubled the lead.
Brazil controlled the ball for just over 45 percent of the match but still managed 14 shots, with six on target. Senegal had 11 attempts, though only one tested the goalkeeper.
After the World Cup qualifiers, Brazil thrashed South Korea 5–0 in a friendly last month but then fell 3–2 to Japan. A month later, the five-time world champions bounced back with a convincing win.
These teams first met in October 2019, playing out a 1–1 draw. In their second meeting in June 2023, Senegal stunned Brazil with a 4–2 win. This third friendly finally brought Brazil their first win over the African side.
Luck could’ve put Brazil ahead even earlier. In the fourth minute, Estevão’s shot was blocked and the rebound fell to Matheus Cunha, whose powerful attempt struck the post.
Brazil kept pushing relentlessly. In the ninth minute, Vinícius Júnior’s long-range effort was stopped by the goalkeeper. In the 17th minute, misfortune struck again—Cunha’s header hit the crossbar.
Their persistence finally paid off in the 28th minute. A deflected shot fell to Estevão in space inside the box, and the 18-year-old forward smashed it in with his first touch.
Estevão, who scored twice against South Korea last month, now has four goals in 10 appearances for the national team.
Brazil doubled the lead in the 35th minute with a superb goal. Given a free kick outside the box, Rodrygo whipped in a cross from the left. Casemiro controlled it beautifully and struck a precise shot that slipped past the keeper.
The Manchester United midfielder now has eight goals in 81 matches for Brazil.
Senegal, who spent most of the first half defending, almost frightened Brazil at the end of the opening half. After three attempts were blocked inside the box, Ederson saved Ismaïla Sarr’s shot.
A goalkeeper error nearly cost Brazil early in the second half. Ederson hesitated on a back pass, giving a Senegal player time to close him down. Ederson hurriedly pushed the ball left, where Iliman Ndiaye intercepted and fired a shot that hit the post.
Senegal, unbeaten in African qualifiers on their way to the World Cup, settled into the game after halftime and matched Brazil with organized football and quick counters.
Arsenal defender Gabriel Magalhães left the pitch with discomfort in the 64th minute, replaced by Wesley. At the same time, Ancelotti swapped out Cunha for Chelsea forward João Pedro.
Brazil then created several promising moves down the left through Vinícius and his teammates, but the final pass or finish failed each time.
Brazil will play their next friendly on Tuesday, against Tunisia.
