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SAO PAULO: Croatia’s goalkeeper (center) makes a save during a Group A football match between Brazil and Croatia at the Corinthians Arena in Sao Paulo yesterday. — AFP Brazil launch WCup in style ’s double gives jittery Brazil a winning start

SAO PAULO: Brazil’s poster boy Neymar scored twice and the outstanding Oscar added a late third as the hosts came Colorful ceremony opens from behind for a dramatic 3-1 victory over Croatia in a Today’s matches thrilling World Cup opening match yesterday. But the 71st- World Cup amid clashes on TV minute penalty from Neymar that tipped the Group A game Brazil’s way seemed a soft one after Japanese referee Yuichi SAO PAULO: Brazil launched the kilometers from the arena after Nishimura harshly ruled that Croatia skipper World Cup yesterday trying to put armored police sought to quell FIFA World Cup had fouled Fred who appeared to throw himself to the on a carnival atmosphere after protests in the hours before the Mexico v Cameroon 19:00 police fired tear gas and rubber bul- opener. World Cup preparations ground. beIN SPORTS 1 HD Neymar had brought Brazil back into the game after 29 lets at protesters in Sao Paulo have been dogged by months of opposed to the tournament. But the protests, reflecting widespread pub- beIN SPORTS 2 HD minutes with the equalizer after defender Marcelo put beIN SPORTS 11 HD through his own net after 11 minutes to give Croatia a five-time world champions shocked lic anger over the money spent. beIN SPORTS 13 HD shock lead. Marcelo’s misfortune meant he became the first their fans by giving away an own But Sao Paulo and other cities beIN SPORTS 1 HD Brazilian ever to score an own goal at the World Cup. The goal 11 minutes into their first game largely went quiet as the game cross came from Ivica Olic whose low ball from the left went against Croatia at the Corinthians started. Yellow and green flags through the legs of Brazil skipper Thiago Silva, clipped Arena in front of 61,600 fans includ- hung from many buildings. Spain v Netherlands 22:00 Nikica Jelavic’s foot and bounced in off Marcelo with keeper ing 12 heads of state. Defender Gutemberg Santos, 42, said his t- beIN SPORTS 1 HD Julio Cesar helpless. Neymar created Brazil’s first opening Marcelo was almost in tears after he shirts and flags had sold like hot beIN SPORTS 2 HD when he jinked along the byline, resulting in a half-cleared steered the ball into his own net cakes. “It has been a good day, beIN SPORTS 11 HD ball to Oscar who slammed in a curling 25-metre drive that from a Croatian cross. But Brazilian everyone is happy,” he said. But pro- beIN SPORTS 13 HD goalkeeper Stipe Pletikosa acrobatically pushed away. hero striker Neymar equalized in the testers who last year brought chaos 29th minute. to the Confederations Cup rehearsal But Croatia’s reprieve only lasted seven minutes and the 14-6-2014 Brazilian police put up a ring of tournament had vowed to march on equalizer was greeted by scenes of unbridled joy. Oscar Chile v Australia 1:01 started the move by beating two men in midfield before steel around the stadium to keep the Sao Paulo stadium. But riot protesters away from the gala debut police responded forcefully, chasing beIN SPORTS 1 HD finding Neymar who advanced a few meters before cracking beIN SPORTS 2 HD in a low left-foot shot that went in off the base of Pletikosa’s of the four-week spectacle that protesters up a main avenue and fir- Brazil has spent more than 11 billion ing tear gas in the middle of oncom- beIN SPORTS 11 HD left-hand post for his 32nd goal in his 50th international. beIN SPORTS 13 HD Neymar scored his 33rd when Pletikosa got both hands to dollars to prepare for. But anarchist ing traffic, forcing cars decorated beIN SPORTS 1 HD FR his penalty but could not stop the ball from going in and demonstrators in black shirts and with the Brazilian flag to weave their masks lit bonfires of rubbish a few way through the chaos. — AFP beIN SPORTS 1 FR Oscar wrapped up the win in the dying minutes. — Reuters