They didn’t have to wait long, with Neymar scoring 15 seconds into the game.
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BRAZIL 6, HONDURAS 0 (at Rio de Janeiro) – With the fastest goal in Olympic history, Neymar led Brazil back to the gold-medal match after losing to Mexico in the final of the 2012 London Games. Besides the early goal, he converted a penalty kick in injury time after controlling the Brazilian offense throughout the game. 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.
“This is the Neymar that we like to see on the field”, said 38-year-old Brazilian fan Andre Gustavo Correa, speaking outside the Maracana. Lochte’s father told The Associated Press that his son had returned to the US before the order was issued, but teammates Jack Conger and Gunnar Bentz were pulled off of their plane as they were getting set to leave. Germany’s senior team trounced Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals of the World Cup in Rio two years ago.
The Olympic gold medal is the only major trophy the five-time World Cup champions haven’t won in soccer.
“Is there anything more handsome than playing an Olympic final at Maracana against Brazil?”.
From the opening minute when Neymar dispossessed Johnny Palacios to put the hosts ahead, the Brazilian team injected a 90-minute football transfusion into the veins of this footballing nation.
After the game, Brazil coach Rogerio Micale, was ecstatic about his team’s dominant performance, particularly from the team captain. “It helped us break the game open and it made everything easier”. The Brazilians take on Germany in the final on Saturday (August 20).
“Is there anything more attractive than playing an Olympic final at Maracana against Brazil?”.
“It was unbelievable to just arrive in the stadium and watch a attractive goal”, said Filipe Deliza, a 19 year-old law student from Rio at the packed Rio venue.
Nigeria were gifted a big chance by the German goalkeeper Horn to equalize three minutes after the opponents went in front when his poor clearance fell to Sadiq Umar inside the box, but he somehow blocked the effort.
“He’s one of the greatest players in the world – the best player on our team”, the Paris Saint-Germain centre-back told L’Equipe.
The Germans absolutely outclassed the Olympic Eagles on Wednesday in winning 2-0 as they set up a final with hosts Brazil.
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AMERICAN SWEEP: 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 US women, regardless of sport, over the history of the Summer Games. More than 450 minutes without seeing their goal breached, the record is enough to reassure even the most pessimistic fears of a repeat of the famous 7-1 hammering against Germany.
