Neymar wins it with late penalty

Neymar netted a controversial penalty to secure Brazil a hard-fought win against Uruguay in a friendly that was anything but on a dank night in London.

Arsenal’s Emirates Stadium played host to the 76th meeting of these South American adversaries as they continued their build-up to next summer’s Copa America.

Brazil are favourites to lift the trophy on home turf and Tite’s men continued their impressive preparations with a narrow 1-0 victory through Neymar’s late penalty.

This was a friendly in name only as referee Craig Pawson handed out eight bookings on a night when Uruguay’s players were furious with the decision to give the Selecao a spot-kick after Diego Laxalt was adjudged to have fouled Manchester City’s Danilo.

It looked harsh and added to a feisty occasion in which Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson Becker had to be alert between the sticks for Brazil.

It was an aggressive clash between two sides missing some key names, with Philippe Coutinho, Marcelo and Casemiro among those absent against a Uruguay side without defenders Diego Godin and Jose Gimenez.

The atmosphere was certainly warmer than the murky north London weather, with noise rising whenever Neymar got near the ball in the opening exchanges.

The Paris St-Germain star fed off the attention and forced Uruguay goalkeeper Martin Campana into a low save from an early fizzing free-kick that he had earned.

Neymar then had a goal ruled out for offside but Uruguay began to settle and Luis Suarez’s fizzing effort was tipped over by Alisson.

The keeper also kept out an Edinson Cavani volley and a 20-yard free-kick from Suarez.

Brazil took control and Tite’s men got the game-changing decision, with Pawson awarding a spot-kick after Danilo went down following a Laxalt challenge.

Neymar rolled home the penalty and Brazil dug deep to frustrate their rivals.

Neymar: Scored from the spot.