Philadelphia. Vinícius Júnior scored and assisted on one of Matheus Cunha's two goals as five-time champion Brazil eliminated Haiti from the World Cup with a 3-0 victory on Friday night.

Haiti, the Western Hemisphere's poorest nation and a World Cup participant for the first time since 1974, became the first team guaranteed not to reach the knockout round. Meanwhile, the Seleção delivered the decisive performance it needed.

Cunha, the Manchester United standout, got the start and showed with every surf-and-slide goal celebration why he should have been in the starting lineup in Brazil's listless 1-1 draw against Morocco. Brazil coach Carlo Ancelotti made the surprising decision in the opener to use Cunha only as a late substitute.

Cunha thrilled Brazilian fans, who made up the bulk of the crowd of 68,324 at Lincoln Financial Field, when he tapped in a rebound for his first career World Cup goal. He later sent a left-footed strike into the upper-left corner to give Brazil a 2-0 lead in the first half against the overmatched Haitians.

Brazil forward Raphinha, who left the match with an injury in the first half, had an early goal disallowed for offside, only temporarily muting the yellow-clad Seleção supporters in an otherwise festive atmosphere at the home of the two-time Super Bowl champion Philadelphia Eagles, whose cheerleaders also helped energize the crowd.

Haitian fans danced and sang "Grenadye Alaso" ("Grenadiers to the Attack"), the traditional battle cry of the national team. Brazilian supporters responded with chants celebrating their country's five World Cup titles and its most famous player: "A thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals, a thousand goals! Only Pelé, only Pelé!"

Cunha added to the festivities in Philadelphia, home to nearly 6,000 Brazilian immigrants, with his signature surfing celebration.

Vinícius, whose 32nd-minute goal helped Brazil salvage a draw against Morocco, helped put Brazil ahead when his shot was stopped by goalkeeper Johny Placide and Cunha slammed home the rebound to make it 1-0. Cunha extended both arms as if riding a wave and was mobbed by his teammates.

Vinícius then threaded a pass through the defense to Cunha, who powered a shot high into the net that Placide had no chance to stop, making it 2-0. Cunha celebrated by sliding on his stomach and mimicking a swimming motion, a gesture that all but sank Haiti's hopes.

Vinícius added a goal before halftime, and that proved more than enough for Brazil, which is seeking its first World Cup title since 2002. The Seleção closes Group C play against Scotland on Wednesday in Miami Gardens, Florida.

Neymar was ruled out of Brazil's second consecutive match because of a lingering calf injury.

Add as a preferred source on Google +