Brazilians heave sigh of relief with World Cup win

Brazilians breathed a sigh of relief Friday after the national team scored two stoppage time goals to beat Costa Rica 2-0 at the World Cup, bringing it closer to a berth in the round of 16.

Brazilian soccer fans celebrate their team's first goal as they watch a live telecast of their team's World Cup match against Costa Rica in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 22, 2018. Brazil won the match 2-0. (AP Photo/Silvia Izquierdo)

With yellow-and-green T-shirts and Brazilian flags draped over their shoulders, thousands of people across Latin America's biggest country gathered in bars, restaurants, coffee shops and public squares to watch the game on large TV screens.

They went wild when Philippe Coutinho and Neymar scored Brazil's two goals with only a few minutes left in the game.

Brazilian soccer fans watch a live telecast of their team's World Cup match against Costa Rica, in a bar at the Alemao Complex slum in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 22, 2018. Brazil won 2-0. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

The narrow streets, homes and storefronts of Rio's Alemao complex of slums, one of the city's largest, were decorated with Brazilian flags and small yellow and green banners.

Sipping beer with a group of friends and residents at one bar, Daisy Gouveia shouted and cheered when Brazil scores its first goal.

"My heart was beating very quickly during the first half," Gouveia, who is studying for her high school diploma, said. "But in the second half Brazil started playing well and went on to score."

Brazil's soccer fans celebrate the second goal scored by their team as they watch a live telecast of the World Cup match against Costa Rica, at the Alemao Complex slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, Friday, June 22, 2018. Brazil won 2-0. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

At the same bar, motorbike taxi driver Marcio de Souza said he was elated with the result.

"The match was wonderful. The Costa Ricans blocked us for a while but Brazil was better and clinched the victory, bringing happiness to all Brazilians."

A Brazilian soccer fan celebrates his team's first goal as they watch a live telecast of their team's World Cup match against Costa Rica, at the bus station in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, June 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Nearby, a group of friends gathered around a table in front of a flag-decorated house where coffee and cake was being served as they watched the match. For a while several of them complained that Brazil wasn't playing well, but when the first goal was scored the hope of being world champions emerged in their enthusiastic shouts and cheers.

A Brazilian soccer fan celebrates his team's first goal as they watch a live telecast of their team's World Cup match against Costa Rica, at the bus station in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, June 22, 2018. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

"It is difficult to say who will win the World Cup," slum resident Leandro de Castro said. "The other teams are also very good, so it will be difficult. But I think we can get there and win the World Cup."

A Brazilian soccer fan watches a live telecast of his team's World Cup match against Costa Rica, at the bus station in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, June 22, 2018. Brazil won the match 2-0. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazilian soccer fans watch a live telecast of their team's World Cup match against Costa Rica, in a distribution center for vegetables, in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, June 22, 2018. Brazil won 2-0. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

Brazilian soccer fans watch a live telecast of their team's World Cup match against Costa Rica, in a distribution center of vegetables in Brasilia, Brazil, Friday, June 22, 2018. Brazil won 2-0. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres)

RIO DE JANEIRO (AP) — Animals at Rio de Janeiro’s BioParque zoo received popsicles and frozen treats Tuesday as the city faced another day of extreme heat during Brazil’s summer.

Jaguars, monkeys and other animals were given an iced diet prepared according to each species’ needs, zoo officials said. Some received frozen fruit, while others were offered mixtures containing frozen blood.

A group of monkeys were handed watermelon popsicles by zoo keepers. A jaguar tried to fish out ground chicken popsicles from a tray that floated in its water tank.

“When she tries to fish out the frozen food, she ends up ingesting water as well,” said Letizia Feitoza, a biologist at the zoo. “This is important for her hydration.”

Zoo officials said the frozen foods are part of routine animal care and help provide thermal comfort during periods of extreme heat. Similar initiatives were carried out last summer as high temperatures affected much of Brazil’s southeast.

Temperatures in Rio de Janeiro rose over 40 degrees Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) on Sunday and Monday, prompting city authorities to issue a Level 3 heat alert and warn of health risks linked to prolonged exposure.

The high temperatures haven’t stopped residents from visiting the Bioparque Zoo, where they watched the animals licking on their red popsicles.

“I thought it was really cool,” said Lorena Carvalho, a teacher visiting the zoo. “I think it brings them more comfort.”

A zookeeper hands a popsicle to a chamek spider monkey during the summer heat at the BioParque do Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)

A white-cheeked spider monkey licks a popsicle in the summer heat at the BioParque do Rio in Rio de Janeiro, Tuesday, Jan. 13, 2026. (AP Photo/Bruna Prado)