Goals: (BRA) Neymar 29', 71' (PK), Oscar 90+1'; (CRO) Marcelo (OG) 11'

Cautions: (BRA) Neymar 27', Gustavo 88'; (CRO) Corluka 65', Lovren 69'

Brazil erased a nervous start to thrill their home fans in the 2014 FIFA World Cup opener in Sao Paulo on Thursday.

Two goals from Neymar, the second on a controversial penalty call 20 minutes from the end, provided relief in a 3-1 win over Croatia. By the final whistle, the scoreline made it look more simple than it was at Arena Corinthians.

Julio Cesar, the Brazil goalkeeper who’d been brought to tears during the national anthem, made an important reaction save off Ivan Perisic as stoppage time began. Seconds later, Brazil was away and Oscar, terrific on the day, toe-poked the insurance goal past Stipe Pletikosa, who looked caught off guard in the Croatia net. Brazil hasn’t lost a competitive match on home soil since falling to Peru in 1975. They’ve won 16 of their last 17 matches, falling only to Switzerland in a friendly in that time.

Croatia’s coach, Niko Kovac, said on Wednesday his team could deliver a “historic result” in Sao Paulo. And in the opening minutes, the possibility loomed large. The cross came in from Ivica Olic, and Nikica Jelavic deflected it enough to throw off the defender Marcelo, who tapped the ball past Cesar and into his own goal.But it only served to wake the hosts, who poured forward, led by the weaving Neymar and Oscar.

It was Neymar, 22 and Barcelona’s golden boy, who pulled Brazil even. Oscar won the ball in midfield and Neymar scuffed his left-footed shot but still picked the far corner, off the post and in behind an outstretched Pletikosa. The shots on goal at the half were seven to one for Brazil.

Croatia were second best but will feel aggrieved with how the winning goal came. Oscar crossed for Fred in the box and defender Dejan Lovren tugged just enough at Fred’s left arm to allow Fred to make the most of it and Japanese referee Yuichi Nishimura to point to the spot. Pletikosa guessed right. He almost saved it. But Neymar’s shot went off his fingertips and in.

With Brazil ahead 2-1, the teams traded chances. David Luiz missed a free header — again it was Oscar with the cross in. Then Croatia, playing without the suspended Bayern Munich striker Mario Mandzukic, had a goal waved off in the 83rd minute, Olic called for a foul on the goalkeeper Cesar before the ball crossed the line.

Neymar left to huge cheers in the 88th. Four shots. Two goals. Few remembered the opening minutes by then.

Croatia, the chronic overachievers, couldn’t join the likes of Senegal in 1998 and Belgium in ‘82 and Bulgaria in ‘86 as opening-day upset artists.