Brazil beat Japan in warm-up
GOIANIA: Teenage star Gabriel Barbosa scored a superb invidivual goal as Neymar returned to lead Brazil to a comfortable 2-0 victory over Japan in an Olympic warm-up game here on Saturday.
The 19-year-old Santos striker, who has been linked to European clubs including Juventus, gave Brazil a 1-0 lead in the 33rd minute after a mesmerising slalom through the Japan defence.
The shot by the forward known to fans as “Gabigol” took a big deflection on its way into the Japanese net but there was no denying the electrifying burst of skill which created the opener.
Barcelona superstar Neymar — desperate to lead Brazil to victory in the Rio de Janeiro Olympics after the agony of the 2014 World Cup — created Brazil’s second from a corner, headed in by Marquinhos in the 41st minute.
Neymar and Gabriel formed a potent attacking trident alongside Gabriel Jesus, the 19-year-old Palmeiras attacker who is reportedly close to signing for English Premier League side Manchester City.
Neymar is one of the biggest stars of Rio’s soccer tournament, which is played mostly with under-23 squads. He was one of the three over-23 players each nation was allowed to add to its roster.
The other two were 38-year-old Palmeiras goalkeeper Fernando Prass and 28-yearold Beijing Guoan midfielder Renato Augusto, who have far less international experience than the Barcelona striker.
Brazil are targeting this year’s Olympic football crown — the only title that the football-mad nation has yet to win.
The Brazilians were beaten in the final of the 2012 Olympics by Mexico at Wembley.
Brazil play South Africa, Iraq and Denmark in their first round Group A at this year’s Olympics. Japan are drawn in Group B against Nigeria, Colombia and Sweden.