World cup and #jozikicks kicks off

Brazil showed why they are one of the favourites of the World Cup by coming back from behind and holding off a late flurry of attacks, to beat Croatia 3 – 1 in the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup on 12 June.

Residents have also provided their views on the match (see below).

The Group A encounter began with the most unexpected incident, and own goal by Brazil’s Marcelo in the seventh minute.

This stunned the yellow-dressed crowd, but when Neymar equalised in the 29th minute, with a perfectly placed finish near the bottom of the right post, it was game on again.

Brazil dominated for most of the match, and won a controversially penalty when the referee deemed that Fred was pulled down by Lovren.

Neymar scored the penalty in the 71st minute, putting Brazil ahead.

Croatia applied pressure at the end but Oscar scored Brazil’s third in the first minute of extra time, sealing a memorable victory.

Your views on Facebook:

Mpho Freshboii Caz: “croatia must not be under estimated they might just take it.”

Walter Dibobo Lekunotu: “somebody who cooked de food let he finished, than u will enjoy nice.”

Spokesperson for Randburg Football Club Marlon Abrahams said that in his personal view Brazil is most likely to win the World Cup.

“They are playing at home, have experience of winning the World Cup [being the only team to have won the World Cup five times], know the climate and the government has spent a lot of money on in

Your views on Twitter:

— Rick Marais (@rickmarais) June 12, 2014

The very last thing I expected. Own goal by Brazil #jozikicks

— Nicholas Zaal (@NicholasZaal) June 12, 2014

That own goal has kicked this game into gear lets go!! #jozikicks

— Simphiwe Nyembe (@nyembes) June 12, 2014

Neymar for the equaliser!! #jozikicks

— Simphiwe Nyembe (@nyembes) June 12, 2014

And the crowd roars Naymar!! #jozikicks

— Rick Marais (@rickmarais) June 12, 2014

Boom! Neymar scores a beauty. The World Cup can end now, we saw what we came to see #jozikicks

— Nicholas Zaal (@NicholasZaal) June 12, 2014

Would it be a world cup in Brazil without Neymar scoring?

— Nicholas Zaal (@NicholasZaal) June 12, 2014

Oscar has got to be the man of the match in that game #WorldCup #jozikicks

— Simphiwe Nyembe (@nyembes) June 12, 2014

Share your views of matches with us by tweeting with the hashtag #jozikicks, or write on our Facebook wall and we will include some of your views in our match summaries.