PHILADELPHIA — Goals had been hard to come by for Matheus Cunha during his first four years with the Brazilian national team but Friday’s showing against Haiti could prove to be the spark he needs to turn things around.
Cunha scored twice on Friday night at Philadelphia Stadium as Carlo Ancelotti’s squad rolled to a 3-0 Group C victory over Haiti. The Manchester United forward got the nod over Igor Thiago atop Ancelotti’s 4-1-2-3 formation and did not disappoint in a 64-minute performance for A Selecao.
The Manchester United forward entered the night with just one international goal to his name in 24 caps but set the tone with a 13-minute brace to help guide a three-goal Brazil first half.
Cunha’s willingness in the final third led to his opening goal in the 23rd minute as he poked home a rebound in the box. Johny Placide repelled Vinicius Junior’s original shot from the left side of the box before Cunha beat a Haitian defender to the rebound for his first international goal in close to 16 months.
The 27-year-old Cunha was at it again not long after, this time showing his shooting power in the final third. After a through ball pass from Vini Jr, Cunha raced into the 18-yard box before roofing a shot past Placide for a 2-0 Brazil lead.
Vini Jr delivered Brazil’s third and final goal of the night before the interval, capping off a deserved win for the South American giants.
Cunha did not walk away with a hat trick on the night after being substituted off in the 64th minute, but did leave the pitch with a major confidence boost. After becoming the ninth Brazilian to record a World Cup brace, Cunha is already on Ancelotti’s men to potentially reclaim his starting spot against Scotland in Miami.
“Possibly,” Ancelotti told reporters when asked whether or not Cunha could start again on Wednesday.
Cunha has continued to be a household name in the English Premier League after making the switch from Wolves to Manchester United last summer. After totaling 31 goals in two seasons at Molineux, Cunha tallied 10 goals for the Red Devils, helping Michael Carrick’s men seal a top-four finish and a place back in the UEFA Champions League for 2026-27.
While the bright lights of Europe’s top club competition are on the horizon for Cunha later this fall, he will first aim to lead the five-time World Cup winners to a top spot finish in Group C.