Vinícius Júnior's offensive spark gets Brazil back on track after lackluster World Cup opener

PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Vinícius Júnior showed why he's the most valuable player for five-time World Cup champion Brazil, scoring one goal and helping to create two others in a 3-0 victory over Haiti on Friday night.

The soon-to-be 26-year-old left winger scored at the end of the first half on a breakaway, casually flicking the ball past Haitian goalkeeper Johny Placide. He also assisted on one goal by Matheus Cunha and set up a rebound that led to another.

Vinícius' breakout performance brought Brazil back in the wake of a 1-1 draw against Morocco last week that left coach Carlo Ancelotti apologizing to fans. After applying steady pressure against Haiti in the opening minutes, Brazil broke through with an offensive torrent.

“I’m at my best level — physically, technically and mentally,” Vinícius said. “That’s important. I always dreamed of reaching the most important competition in the world at my 100 percent.”

“I’m here to continue evolving and take Brazil to the top,” he added.

Vinícius took a bending shot that rebounded off Placide's gloves and set up Cunha for the put-away that made it 1-0. Thirteen minutes later, he set Cunha up with a long feed that Cunha drove into the net.

In the third minute of injury time, it was Vinícius who corralled a long pass and easily won the 1-on-1 matchup with the diving goalkeeper. He nearly had another assist halfway through the second half with a one-touch pass to an open Gabriel Martinelli, who launched the ball off the post.

“Everyone was feeling lighter today and the field was also in a better condition, so we were able to do our soccer,” Vinícius said.

Vinícius partly credited his breakthrough to Ancelotti's decision to move him between the forwards, a different position than he's used to.

“I don’t play much there, but whenever the coach asks me to play there, I score, so I have to listen to him more,” he said.

Before the game, the player nicknamed “Viní” had said he thought he had more to show in the tournament — even after scoring the goal that brought Brazil even with Morocco.

He now believes Brazil is hitting its stride.

“This was a very important game for us,” he said. “We were able to do our game. It gave us tranquility and superiority inside the field, where we were able to do many plays and score the goals.”

Coming off scoring 16 goals in 36 games with Real Madrid, he made an effort to help the defense on several occasions against Haiti and created numerous scoring chances.

Brazil and Morocco are tied atop Group C with four points, followed by Scotland with three.

The Brazilians are ranked sixth in the world; Haiti is 85th and became the first team eliminated from the tournament.

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Brazil's Vinicius Junior runs with the ball during the World Cup Group C soccer match against Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior leaves the pitch to be substituted during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) celebrates after scoring his side's third goal during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Petr David Josek)

Brazil's Vinicius Junior (7) scores the third goal for his team against Haiti goalkeeper Johny Placide (1) during the World Cup Group C soccer match between Brazil and Haiti in Philadelphia, Friday, June 19, 2026. (AP Photo/Derik Hamilton)

NEW YORK (AP) — Cam Schlittler was so dominant Friday night that even a member of the NBA champion New York Knicks thinks the tall right-hander is the top pitcher in the American League.

Schlittler had the best regular-season outing of his brief career Friday night for the New York Yankees, striking out 13 in six overpowering innings and using three types of high-velocity fastballs in a 5-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds.

In his 30th major league start, the 6-foot-8 Schlittler eclipsed his previous career high of nine strikeouts. Against the Reds, he dominated in a way similar to the deciding Game 3 of last year's AL Wild Card Series against the rival Boston Red Sox when he struck out 12 in eight innings.

Two nights after throwing out the ceremonial first pitch at Yankee Stadium along with Knicks teammate Jalen Brunson, Josh Hart posted on social media about Schlittler, saying: “Schlitty is the Cy Young winner hands down.”

“That’s a good thing to hear,” Schlittler said. “Josh is a great guy. I talked to him after the first playoff game. I’m pumped for him and the city of New York just being able to finish that off and it’s great to have his support.”

Schlittler (8-3) notched five strikeouts on his four-seam fastball that averaged 97.9 mph. The seventh-round draft pick had four strikeouts apiece on cutters and sinkers while throwing first-pitch strikes to 15 of 23 hitters after three straight winless starts.

“From back there, he looks crazy nasty,” New York second baseman Jazz Chisholm Jr. said.

At 25 years, 134 days, Schlittler became the youngest Yankees pitcher with 13 strikeouts since Al Downing (22 years, 359 days) also fanned 13 against the Chicago White Sox on June 21, 1964.

“I think he’s able to go so deep in the game sometimes because they generate such weak contact and he’s just filling up the zone,” Yankees first baseman Ben Rice said. “It is a little surprising. At the same time, if you told me he had 13 Ks in a game, I’d be like, that checks out."

Schlittler also became the youngest Yankees pitcher to strike out 13 without issuing a walk. He threw 66 of 96 pitches for strikes and got his 10th strikeout when Eugenio Suárez swung at a 99.1 mph sinker to end the fourth.

“He kind of came as advertised,” Reds manager Terry Francona said. “It’s 90s and it’s a fastball that’s not straight. One’s cutting, one’s sinking, one’s at the top of the zone. It’s pretty impressive.”

Schlittler caught Matt McLain looking at a 100 mph fastball in the fifth and got his final strikeout with a 98 mph fastball against JJ Bleday in the sixth. Schlittler allowed four hits and exited to a standing ovation after stranding two runners in the sixth.

“Tonight I felt like he was on top of his game and had it going and the stuff was electric,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “I felt like he was in control and kind of dominating the game a little bit.”

Schlittler has a 1.71 ERA, lowest for a Yankees pitcher through 16 starts in a season since Whitey Ford was at 1.47 in 1964. Opponents are batting .194 against Schlittler, who has ascended to the top of a Yankees rotation that just got Gerrit Cole back from elbow surgery last month and has been missing Max Fried since mid-May.

All of which only enhances Schlittler's case to start next month’s All-Star Game.

“We can all say he’s probably been the best, one of the best pitchers in the sport,” Boone said. “There’s all kinds of things that go into that and that’s a few weeks away. We’ll see. He’s definitely, I think you can make the case he’s been the best pitcher in the American League so far.”

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New York Yankees' catcher J.C. Escarra and pitcher Cam Schlittler shake hands during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds , Friday, June 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)

New York Yankees pitcher Cam Schlittler throws against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning of a baseball game, Friday, June 19, 2026, in New York. (AP Photo/Noah K. Murray)