CHELSEA wonderkid Estevao was the star of the Samba show as Brazil trounced South Korea.
Fresh from his heroics for the Blues against Liverpool, the 18-year-old ruined Son Heung-min’s big day in Seoul with a brace in this 5-0 friendly thumping.
And it was a dazzling performance that should have all-but secured Estevao’s place on the plane for next summer’s World Cup.
While he had to wait until the 95th-minute for last week’s winner at Stamford Bridge, it took less than quarter of an hour for him to grab his second goal for the five-time world champs.
Bruno Guimaraes spotted the run of the star, who cost Chelsea £29m from Palmeiras, and took out three defenders with a pin-point pass that allowed Estevao to dart and break the deadlock.
It was a brilliant assist by the Newcastle captain, who showed no signs of jetlag after his journey from hell to the Far East.
Both he and Toon’s fellow Brazilian Joelinton were originally due to link up with Carlo Ancelotti’s squad on Tuesday, only to suffer a 24 hour delay after their flight from Amsterdam to Seoul was forced to turn around due to a broken window.
That early opener put the early dampeners on the celebrations for Tottenham legend Son, earning his 137th cap to become his nation’s all-time top appearance maker.
But the now Los Angeles FC veteran, 33, struggled to get a sniff as only an offside flag prevented Brazil from doubling their advantage after Casemiro strayed before heading home Estevao’s free-kick.
The hosts were unable to stop the tide as the Manchester United midfielder turned provider, teeing-up Rodrygo after the Real Madrid ace’s faint from Vinicius Jr’s cutback for the forward to rifle home right-footed.
Estevo grabbed his second straight after the break, stealing the ball from Kim Min-Jae and curling home right-footed.
Not to be outdone, Rodrygo sealed his own brace moments later, coolly finishing after neatly being set-up by Vinicius Jr.
Son was put out of his misery when he was taken off just after the hour mark.
But there was more agony in store for his team-mates when Vinicius Jr finished off a counter-attack from a corner to make it five.
Read the full article here