And the semifinal against Honduras was effectively over as a contest when Neymar scored the fastest goal in Olympic history after just 15 seconds; the Hondurans’ only hope had been to hang on, frustrate and catch Brazil on the break.
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Gabriel Jesus added two goals in the first half at the packed Maracana Stadium and Marquinhos and Luan scored a goal each in the second.
Besides the early goal, he converted a penalty kick in injury time after controlling the Brazilian offense throughout the game.
In the men’s football, Brazilians were treated to a feast of Joga Bonito (Portuguese for play beautiful), as the host nation thrashed Honduras 6-0 in a very scintillating semi-fianl to reach the final against Germany, where they will have a chance to avenge the 7-1 defeat from the 2014 World Cup. As Brazil routed Honduras in the semifinals, the crowd at the Maracana chanted that Germany’s “turn is coming up”.
FIFA.com previews both matches of the final day at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament Rio 2016.
Germany, Brazil’s opponents, defeated tournament outsiders Nigeria 2-0.
Led by captain and forward Neymar, whose brace bookended Brazil’s best game of the tournament, it was a far cry from the two drab goal-less draws against South Africa and Iraq that began their Games campaign. This was the fastest goal ever in an Olympic match.
The same player made it three eight minutes later, when he ran on to a superb 30-yard pass from Neymar to lift the ball over the Honduras goalkeeper and into the roof of the net.
Gifted right back Zeca, from Brazilian club Santos, where Neymar used to play, helps both on offense and defense, while 22-year-old Douglas Santos, who has played for small clubs in Spain and Italy, is solid on the left flank.
History now beckons for the golden generation of the Seleção as they look to become the first Brazil side to secure a Gold medal at the competition.
One more win will give them the coveted Olympic gold.
He has already drawn lighthearted comparisons to other Olympic greats.
Micale said: “Maybe my intention is to change the style, but we also want to get the best out of our players”.
“We’re playing together as a group”.
To thicken the plot of the final’s storyline, the Olympic gold is the only footballing honour to elude Brazil, which has five World Cups, eight Copa Americas and four Confederations Cups.
Neymar was a member of Brazil’s squad in 2014 but didn’t play against Germany after breaking a bone in his back in the quarterfinals against Colombia.
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Brianna Rollins, Nia Ali and Kristi Castlin finished 1-2-3 in the 100-meter hurdles to give the United States its first sweep in the event, its seventh in the history of Olympic track and the 23rd for USA women, regardless of sport, over the history of the Summer Games.
