Samba stars turn on style in second half

– Brazil turned on the style in the second half to score four goals and hammer Honduras 5-0 in a friendly in Miami on Saturday.

Bernard, Dante, Maicon, pictured, Willian and Hulk scored for the Brazilians, who took their time to settle but ran out comfortable winners. Substitute Robinho stood out in the second half in his fi rst international appearance in two years. “I was happy with the way we played, we were very good, and it was great for me to come back and play like this,” said Robinho, who hit the post with a lovely strike.

Honduras took the game to Brazil in the early stages and put in some aggressive tackling, particularly against Barcelona striker Neymar. But as the game went on Brazil gradually took control, with Paulinho particularly prominent in midfield.

Brazil opened the scoring in the 21st minute when Paulinho took possession on the right and crossed for Bernard to strike home from eight yards. Brazil doubled the lead in the 54th min- ute when a Dante header hit two Honduran defenders, wrongfooted goalkeeper Valladares and rolled into the net.

Brazil’s third was similarly scrappy, Valladares parrying a Paulinho shot only as far as Maicon, who had the easiest of tap ins in the 65th minute.

Willian scored his first international goal with a side foot finish from 12 yards out.

Hulk completed the rout in the 73rd minute. –