As the net rippled, Brazil celebrated.
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The win against Germany – the same country that dealt a crushing 7-1 defeat to the Brazilians on home soil during a 2014 World Cup semifinal – brought a measure of redemption for the host nation, and earned Brazil its first Olympic gold in soccer.
The final game had to be decided via a penalty shoot-out, following a normal and extra time 1-1 finish after 120 minutes.
For Brazil, this was a cathartic success.
If Brazilians were anxious ahead of this match, those anxieties were expressed with raucous support.
Neymar’s spot-kick sparked scenes of euphoria inside the famous Maracana, but it did not stop the forward revealing he no longer wanted the armband.
Brazil still looked the hungrier side but it was Germany who got the next goal with an hour gone.
Brazil was buoyant, but its newfound confidence was fragile.
Germany hit the woodwork three times in the first half – through Julian Brandt’s 25-yard effort, a deflection off a Brazilian defender and Sven Bender’s header – before they scored a deserved equaliser shortly after the restart.
“After the World Cup and what happened against Germany, I think Brazil’s self-esteem was damaged”, said former worldwide Rai.
“I said to my players before the game: this is your stadium, go out and you’ll see 80,000 people to welcome you”, he said.
In the shootout, Germany’s Nils Petersen had his penalty saved by Weverton before Neymar won it.
With Neymar at captain, Brazil turned its tournament around.
Tite, the coach of Brazil’s senior national team, will announce his squad for those matches on Monday, with Gabriel Jesus and Gabigol among those expected to be named alongside national team veterans such as Thiago Silva, Marcelo, Oscar, Willian and Douglas Costa.
“This is one of the happiest things that have happened to me”, he said moments later.
Weverton was cast alongside Neymar in the role of hero with his penalty save, but the goalkeeper was quick to praise the contribution of a higher power.
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“It shows I didn’t just fluke it in London”, Farah said.
