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Vinicius Junior Shines on Rio Return as Brazil Crush Chile

Vinicius Jr. after scoring Brazil’s second goal against Chile in World Cup qualifying, Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Rio de Janeiro. (AP)
Vinicius Jr. after scoring Brazil’s second goal against Chile in World Cup qualifying, Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Rio de Janeiro. (AP)
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Vinicius Junior Shines on Rio Return as Brazil Crush Chile

Vinicius Jr. after scoring Brazil’s second goal against Chile in World Cup qualifying, Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Rio de Janeiro. (AP)
Vinicius Jr. after scoring Brazil’s second goal against Chile in World Cup qualifying, Thursday, March 24, 2022, in Rio de Janeiro. (AP)

Vinicius Junior celebrated a return to the Maracana stadium on Thursday with his first international goal for Brazil and a starring performance in their 4-0 thrashing of Chile.

The 21-year-old wide man played for Flamengo before sealing a transfer to Real Madrid and he excelled at his former home, taking advantage of a neat Neymar dummy to slot an angled shot past Claudio Bravo on the stroke of halftime.

The goal was wedged between penalties by Neymar and Philippe Coutinho and followed in stoppage time by a fourth goal from substitute Richarlison.

"At the Maracana with my family, there was nowhere better to score my first international goal," he said. "I'm very happy."

Sports news website Globoesporte said the player bought more than 100 tickets for friends and family.

"It's our last game in Brazil before the World Cup and we are going to thank the fans," he added. "Now we have to keep working hard and doing the right things to ensure we win the title at the end of the year."

The victory was Brazil's seventh in seven home qualifiers against Chile, who must now beat the already qualified Uruguay in their final match next Tuesday to have any hope of landing a World Cup playoff spot.

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NBA Postpones Game Between Lakers and Hornets Due to Wildfires in LA Area

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
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NBA Postpones Game Between Lakers and Hornets Due to Wildfires in LA Area

PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP
PACIFIC PALISADES, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 09: In an aerial view, an emergency vehicle (C) drives past destroyed homes as the Palisades Fire continues to burn on January 09, 2025 in Pacific Palisades, California. Mario Tama/Getty Images/AFP

The NBA postponed the Los Angeles Lakers’ home game against the Charlotte Hornets on Thursday with several massive wildfires burning across the greater Los Angeles area.
It was the second straight day a game slated to be played in downtown Los Angeles was postponed, The Associated Press reported. The NHL's Los Angeles Kings were scheduled to host the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night.
The dates for the rescheduled games have not been announced. The Kings said tickets for their postponed game against Calgary will be good for the rescheduled date.
Several major fires were burning in areas of the vast Los Angeles metroplex following two days of extraordinary winds. A major threat broke out Wednesday evening in the Hollywood Hills, close to the heart of the entertainment industry, but had been contained by Thursday morning.
Roughly 180,000 people are under evacuation orders, and the fires have consumed about 45 square miles (117 square kilometers) — roughly the size of San Francisco. The Palisades Fire is already the most destructive in Los Angeles’ history.
NFL playoffs The Los Angeles Rams sent out a statement to season ticket holders and fans Thursday morning reiterating that Monday night's NFC wild-card round postseason game against the Minnesota Vikings remains set to be played as scheduled at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood.
The NFL said Wednesday evening if the game had to be moved, it would take place at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona, the home of the Arizona Cardinals.
In 2003, the league moved a Monday night regular-season game between the Miami Dolphins and San Diego Chargers to Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Arizona, due to wildfires.
The Rams and the Los Angeles Chargers both train in areas not threatened by fires, but both teams are monitoring the air quality and its potential impact on their workouts.
The Chargers changed their practice schedule Wednesday to minimize their players’ outdoor time in coastal El Segundo. The Chargers are leaving after practice on Thursday for Houston and their AFC wild-card matchup against the Texans on Saturday.
Coach Jim Harbaugh had the Chargers’ offensive and defensive units practice separately to limit their time on the field. The air quality at the team’s complex was 185 on Wednesday. Anything above 150 is considered unhealthy.
The Rams held their first practice on Thursday but canceled their player media availability so everybody could go home quickly. Their headquarters are in Woodland Hills, a neighborhood located about 13 miles north of fire-ravaged Pacific Palisades but separated by the Santa Monica Mountains.
NBA Los Angeles Clippers star Kawhi Leonard abruptly left the team before its game at Denver on Wednesday because of what the team described as personal reasons. Leonard bought a house in Pacific Palisades in 2021.
“You definitely have to take care of home. ... Totally had my support 100 percent,” Clippers coach Tyronn Lue said. “Going back, checking on his family and kids, making sure they’re well. And he got back, and they’re doing OK, so just happy and thankful for that.”
The West Coast Conference postponed women's basketball games scheduled for Thursday night at Pepperdine and Loyola Marymount.
Pepperdine was scheduled to face Portland at Firestone Field House on the school’s Malibu campus. Pepperdine canceled classes Wednesday, and access to its coastal campus was restricted.
Loyola Marymount had its game against San Diego postponed as a precautionary measure due to air quality concerns inside Gersten Pavilion while the facility is being renovated.
Horse racing Santa Anita Park postponed Friday's racing program until Jan. 16 because of poor air quality forecast in Arcadia, near the Eaton Fire.
The California Horse Racing Board approved the rescheduling of the 10-race card, which will be run with the horses previously entered.
“While Santa Anita continues to remain well outside of any active fire area, the smoke from the wildfires is affecting all of Los Angeles County,” track general manager Nate Newby said. “We also want to respect the impact that this tragedy has had on many of our community, including our horsemen and women and our own Santa Anita team, who have been devastated by these fires.”
A decision on Saturday and Sunday's racing will be made Friday.
The track was handing out N-95 masks to all backstretch and frontside workers as well as protective eyewear because of the smoke.
Golf The PGA Tour has not decided whether to play the Genesis Invitational at Riviera Country Club, scheduled for Feb. 13-16.
Riviera, which will host golf in the 2028 Olympics, is in the Pacific Palisades community and was part of the evacuation order. In a memo to players Thursday, the tour said the course was not directly affected by the fire. Golf tournaments require building hospitality tents around the course.
Tiger Woods is the host of the tournament, a signature event with a $20 million purse.
Soccer Ali Riley, a defender for Angel City in the National Women's Soccer League who also plays for the New Zealand national team, said her family's home was destroyed in the Palisades Fire.
Riley posted a photo on Instagram of the devastated neighborhood with an arrow pointing to where the house once stood.
"I was there Monday night eating dinner. Hanging with mom and dad. Watched the sunset," she wrote. “And now it's gone forever.”