Neymar scored three goals as Brazil
thrashed China 8-0 on Monday, rebounding from a lackluster win over South
Africa and easing the pressure on coach Mano Menezes
Neymar, who was among those jeered
three days ago after the poor performance against South Africa, scored in the
26th, 54th and 60 minutes at the Arruda Stadium in the northeastern city
of Recife.
Ramires opened the scoring in the
22nd minute, Lucas added another in the 48th and Hulk got his goal in the 51st.
Brazil also scored through an own goal by Chinese defender Liu Jianye in the
71st, and Oscar sealed the victory by converting a penalty kick in
the 75th.
Brazil beat South Africa 1-0 Friday
as fans in Sao Paulo loudly jeered the team, especially Neymar and Menezes, who
was booed nearly every time he left the bench to give instructions to players
or to make substitutions.
The pressure for the coach to resign
had increased significantly last month after he failed to lead Brazil to the
Olympic gold medal despite a squad filled with most of his top players.
The crowd of nearly 30,000 fans at
the Arruda applauded the national team after Monday's match was over, though,
and even Menezes was celebrated.
"Without the support from the
fans everything becomes a lot harder," right backsaid. "It was important
to have the fans on our side tonight."
It was the first time Brazil won by
more than four goals since the coach took over after the 2010 World Cup.
Brazil didn't play great against
China but faced fewer difficulties than it did against South Africa,
controlling possession and threatening from the beginning.
Ramires put Brazil on the board
after a give-and-goal play with Chelsea teammate Oscar. He received the ball in
front of the net and chipped it over the Chinese goalkeeper.
Neymar added to the lead with an
easy goal from the six-meter line after another pass by Oscar. Hulk, who scored
the late winner against South Africa, started the play in a breakaway on the
right side, and Neymar sent a low shot into the open net with no one
near him.
Hulk set up the third goal too,
clearing a defender outside the area and rolling the ball to Lucas, who had
time and fire a low shot into the net. Hulk's goal came with a shot from
outside the area after getting the rebound off Neymar's long-range shot into
the crossbar.
"The team played with a lot of
heart from the beginning," Hulk said. "We never gave up and that made
the difference, it allowed us to get this big win."
Neymar easily scored his second goal
by completing a left-side cross by Marcelo, then got his third from inside the
area after another pass by Oscar, who got on the board by converting a penalty
kick just moments after Lie found his own net while trying to clear a ball
inside the area.
Brazil is not playing in South
American World Cup qualifying because it has already secured a place in the
2014 tournament as hosy. footballfest
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