Neymar once
again stole the show by scoring four goals - including a perfect
hat-trick- as Brazil continued their strong start under new manager
Dunga by sweeping aside Japan in Singapore.
Just
three days after Brazil saw off Argentina in the Superclasico de las
Americas, Neymar, the country's 22-year-old captain and talisman, was
unstoppable after opening the scoring in the first half.
The
striker put in a superb display and his quartet of goals included one
with his left foot, one with his right foot and one with his head.
Brazil striker Neymar was in superb form in Singapore, rounding Japan keeper Eiji Kawashima before slotting home to make it 1-0
Neymar celebrates his first goal in
front of a sea of fans in Singapore, after being put through by new
strike partner Diego Tardelli
Neymar runs through to score his
second goal after being fed by a wonderful outside-of-the-foot pass from
Liverpool star Coutinho
The Brazil captain was left unmarked at the far post to head in his fourth, as the 22-year-old superstar ran riot in SIngapore
Neymar was a constant threat, running
at the Japan defence as he continued his good form from the previous
game against Argentina
Japan
started brightly, and despite resting their most established stars such
as Keisuke Honda and Shinji Kagawa, the Blue Samurai caused Brazil some
troubles in the first half.
But
Neymar was a constant threat, ably assisted by Diego Tardelli, who
looked to have gained confidence from his two goals against Argentina in
Beijing, and was far more involved in the build-up play than in the
Superclassico.
And it was from one such moment of combination that Brazil went ahead after 18 minutes.
Tardelli
dropped deep and threaded a delightful ball through the Japan defence,
and Neymar, quicker and stronger than his marker, collected it, before
rounding keeper Eiji Kawashima and slotting home.
The Barcelona forward almost got on
the scoresheet early on, bending a beautiful free kick over the wall
only to see it hit the crossbar
Stuttgart defender Gotoku Sakai was
one of just three Japanese starters in a slightly weakened eleven, to
play their club football in Europe
Chelsea full-back Felipe Luis challenges Sakai as Japan made a decent start to the first half before being blown away by Neymar
Even
before that the Barcelona striker had shown that he was always the most
dangerous player on the pitch, striking the angle of post and bar with a
beautiful free kick.
Japan
continued to make their opponents work, Kobayashi proving a handful up
front and Tanaka providing energy from midfield, but they rarely forced
Jefferson in the Brazil goal to make a save, as Dunga's side began to
take control in Singapore.
And
in the second half it was the Neymar show, the 22-year-old sliding home
from a brilliant Coutinho pass, tucking home a rebound after the
Liverpool midfielder had seen a shot saved, and then rising highest at
the back post to score a fourth.
Japan
had no answer to his magnificence, neither preventing the supply of
ball, or, as a more experienced and perhaps more cynical side might have
done, stopping him with fouls before he got into full flight.
Dunga (right) is enjoying a good start
to his second spell in charge of Brazil, but didn't seem overjoyed
after Neymar's first goal
The Brazilians celebrate going in
front in the 18th minute, and the World Cup semi-finalists looked
comfortable from that point on
Instead
they stood off the Barcelona star, and he needed no second invitation.
With the likes of Oscar, Willian and Coutinho, and later Kaka and
Robinho, feeding his runs, Neymar could even have had more.
With
the score at 2-0 he was played through on the left side, but missed the
target after cutting cleverly back inside. It mattered little though,
as the chances kept coming for Brazil's favourite son, who now has 40
goals in just 58 games for his country.
The Barcelona forward runs away to celebrate after effectively ending the match as a contest with his second goal in Singapore
It was a magnificent display from a
player on top of his game as Japan failed to cope with Neymar's direct
running and clinical finishing
Neymar celebrates after bagging his hat-trick goal after Kawashima had parried Coutinho's shot from the edge of the penalty box
Japan had no answer to Neymar's movement, skill and finishing, as he scored a perfect hat-trick in his one-man demolition job
Kaka, who hit the bar in the build-up
to Neymar's third goal, congratulates his skipper after Neymar wrapped
up the scoring with his fourth
A young supporter shows his love for
Japan, and in particular Milan star Keisuke Honda, who was kept on the
bench in the first half
The majority of the fans in the
National Stadium in Singapore were backing Japan, but many seemed
excited to see Brazil in the flesh
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