Brazil equalized late to share an entertaining and at times heated 3-3 friendly draw against Spain on Tuesday as youngsters Lamine Yamal and Endrick dazzled.
Lucas Paqueta fired home a penalty in stoppage time to deny La Roja victory at the Santiago Bernabeu, after the hosts took a late lead.
Spain captain Rodri also scored two highly controversial penalties during a thrilling battle under a closed roof in the Spanish capital.
The Manchester City midfielder opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 12th minute after electric winger Yamal was brought down in the box and Dani Olmo extended Spain’s lead with a fine individual goal.
An error by Spain goalkeeper Unai Simon allowed Rodrygo to head back before the break and teenage sensation Endrick, on as a substitute, equalized with Brazil five minutes into the second half.
Rodri sent his second penalty late after Dani Carvajal was clipped by Lucas Beraldo, but Paqueta had the last laugh.
The match, organized to combat racism after various incidents of abuse targeting Real Madrid and Brazil winger Vinicius Junior in Spain, proved a thrilling battle between two of football’s heavyweight nations.
Vinicius captained Brazil for the first time but remained largely silent, with fellow teenager and future Los Blancos teammate Endrick continuing to enjoy the limelight, alongside Barcelona youngster Yamal.
“It’s a shame it escaped us in the last second, it was a penalty we could have avoided,” Rodri said. Teleportation.
Rodri received the armband from regular captain Alvaro Morata on this occasion, as a gesture for the recent death of the midfielder’s grandfather.
“I dedicated (the goals) to my grandfather, for everything he taught me,” Rodri added.
La Roja excelled in the first half, barely allowing five-time World Cup winners Brazil to sniffle in Selecao coach Dorival Junior’s second match at the helm.
“I’m angry not to win a match in which we were superior,” admitted Spain coach Luis de la Fuente, but he said he was encouraged as Euro 2024 approaches this summer.
“The positive point… is that we came out stronger, the team is growing and gives the feeling that this team can go very far.”
“One of the greats”
🇪🇸 Lamine Yamal – Spain vs Brazil – Friendly match
Incredible talent 💎 pic.twitter.com/ArbtKeSZIk
– ⚽️ (@BarcelonaComps) March 26, 2024
Yamal won Rodri’s converted penalty for the opening goal, although the Barcelona winger was lucky after going down easily under a challenge from Joao Gomes.
The 16-year-old continues to grow with each game and played in Olmo for the second goal, which finished well after some sublime footwork.
“(Yamal) put in a brilliant performance, but I like to be careful, that’s the best we can give these kids,” De la Fuente said.
Spain allowed Brazil into the match just before half-time when Simon carelessly gave the ball away to Rodrygo who pounced with a lob.
At half-time, Dorival brought on Endrick, who scored the winner against England in another friendly on Saturday, for his first appearance at the home of his future club Real Madrid.
The 17-year-old starlet didn’t wait long to score her first goal in the Spanish capital, volleying home after a corner was headed her way.
“If he completes his development, he will be one of the greats,” Dorival said.
Spain thought they had won when Rodri scored his second penalty in the closing stages after Carvajal hit the deck in a collision with Beraldo, but Brazil refused to throw in the towel.
The visitors earned their own penalty in stoppage time when Carvajal, who had fallen, cynically removed Galeno’s leg.
Lucas Paqueta penalty for Brazil against Spain 🇧🇷⚽️⚒⚒⚒ pic.twitter.com/5L0qjyzhGP
– @HammersMuseumPerth (@PerthWhuMuseum) March 26, 2024
Paqueta, who was lucky to survive without punishment for swinging an arm at Marc Cucurella, sent Simon the wrong way to equalize with virtually the last kick.
“A match against Brazil is never friendly, both teams want to win, we gave everything on the pitch with and without the ball,” Olmo said.
“In the end it didn’t happen, but we have to be proud of what we did.”
