Diving Neymar lifts Brazil
Neymar earned a yellow card for yet another dive.
He had already converted a penalty kick and assisted on two goals when he took on defender Bryan Tamacas in the 44th minute of Brazil’s 5-0 rout of El Salvador on Tuesday night.
With a slight touch with his right foot, Neymar pushed the ball to his left just past Tamacas, who looked to have gotten a bit of the forward right leg. Neymar fell to the ground.
Jair Marrufo, one of the American referees at this year’s World Cup, gave Neymar an immediate yellow card after the minimal contact.
Neymar converted a penalty kick for the second straight game and assisted on three goals before a crowd of 28,511 at FedEx Field.
“We know we suffered after the World Cup, myself in particular, so to be back with the team is an honor,” Neymar said through an interpreter. “And to be back winning, making goals, and helping my squad mates in the best way possible.”
The crowd was less than half the 67,619 who attended the Sele- cao’s previous appearance at FedEx Field, against the U.S. in 2012.
Richarlison got his first two international goals, and Phillipe Coutinho also scored for Brazil.
Neymar converted a penalty kick in the fourth minute after Richarlison was taken down. With 59 goals in 92 international appearances, Neymar is third in Brazilian history behind Pele (77) and Ronaldo (62). Neymar has now equaled Pele in appearances.
Neymar dribbled past two defenders in the 16th minute before laying off a pass to Richarlison, who one-timed a shot from the edge of a penalty area in his second international appearance. /