Neymar sends Brazil into the last 16

         BRAZIL 4-1 CAMEROON


Neymar scored twice in a man-of-the-match
display as Brazil rediscovered their attacking flair to
overwhelm Cameroon and qualify for the World Cup
knockout stage.
The 22-year-old produced two brilliant first-half
strikes either side of a Joel Matip equaliser, with
Fred and Fernandinho assuring their side of a place
in the last 16 as winners of Group A.
Standing between the hosts and a place in the
quarter-finals are Chile, and Brazil can approach
that meeting in Belo Horizonte on Saturday with
renewed belief in their title chances.
Unconvincing performances against Croatia and
Mexico raised concerns about Brazil - and worries
remain over their defence - but with Neymar at their
disposal, anything is possible.
The Barcelona forward was back at the scene of his
spectacular goal against Japan in the opening game
of last year's Confederations Cup, which kick-
started Brazil's march to that title, and coach Luiz
Felipe Scolari will desperately hope this result can
have a similar impact.
Scolari named an identical line-up to the one that
beat Japan, meaning Hulk returned from injury to
replace Ramires in the same 4-3-3 formation that
edged them past Croatia.
Any frustration from Tuesday's 0-0 draw with
Mexico appeared to have dissipated as droves of
yellow-and-green-clad fans created a sensational
atmosphere inside Brasilia's magnificent Estadio
Nacional, and Brazil responded by pouring forward
in search of an early goal.
Neymar scores the 100th goal
of Brazil 2014
They almost had it when a Paulinho shot was
blocked after Neymar played in Hulk to cross, but
such attacking ambition left them exposed in
defence and Cameroon looked to capitalise.
A sharp break ended with Marcelo blocking a
goalbound Vincent Aboubakar strike before David
Luiz was forced to frantically clear Eric Choupo
Moting's low centre inside the six yard box.
Brazil did not, however, seem in the mood to curb
their natural instincts and after Neymar had been
riled by Allan Nyom's off-the-ball shove, the 22-
year-old made his mark.
Luiz Gustavo won possession on the left and
crossed for Neymar to open his body and beat
Charles Itandje with a delightful first-time, side-
footed finished into the bottom corner.
It was a fitting way to register the 100th goal of this
World Cup - and the same man almost made it two
with a ferocious volley that Itandje did well to punch
away.
The stadium was rocking but would soon fall silent
as Cameroon exposed the hosts' shaky defence,
Nyom beating Dani Alves and squaring for Matip to
escape Luiz and finish from close range.
Scolari gesticulated wildly to his players and they
responded in the only way they know, Marcelo
finding Neymar to race upfield and wrong-foot
Itandje for his 35th goal in 52 internationals.
Neymar was now showboating and he combined
with Oscar and Paulinho to set up Hulk for what
would have been a sensational team effort, only for
Hulk to miscue.
Scolari replaced Paulinho with Fernandinho at half-
time - a move many supporters and pundits have
been calling for in recent days - and it had an
immediate impact.
The Manchester City midfielder sent Hulk clear,
Henri Bedimo arriving with a perfectly timed
challenge, and then found Luiz to cross for Fred to
extend Brazil's lead.
Replays suggested he was offside but referee
Jonas Eriksson stood firm and Fred celebrated a
moment that should help his confidence after poor
showings against Croatia and Mexico.
Fernandinho slotted home a superb fourth that his
contribution deserved and Brazil's satisfaction was
increased by the fact that all of their players who
were one booking away from a suspension -
Neymar, Thiago Silva, Luiz Gustavo and Ramires -
finished without punishment.
After a shaky start, Neymar
fired Brazil ahead
Cameroon stunned the hosts
when Joel Matip equalised
Brazil striker Fred tried to
score with a header off the
floor
Fred scored his first goal of
the World Cup with a second-
half header
Cameroon Brazil
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All Sport
World Cup 2014
Cameroon Brazil
FIFA WORLD CUP
Date: Monday, 23rd June
Kick off: 21:00 BST
Venue: Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha
V
FT 90' +5
HT 1-2
Neymar 17'
Matip 26'
Neymar 34'
Fred 49'
Fernandinho 84'
Cameroon Brazil
Substitutes Substitutes
Itandje 16
Nyom 22
Bedimo 12
Mbia 17
N'Koulou 3
Matip 21
Moukandjo (Salli 58'
)
8
Enoh 18
Aboubakar (Webó
72')
10
N'Guémo 7
Choupo-Moting (
Makoun 81')
13
Julio César 12
Dani Alves 2
Marcelo 6
Luiz Gustavo 17
Thiago Silva 3
David Luiz 4
Hulk (Ramires 63') 7
Paulinho (
Fernandinho 45')
8
Fred 9
Oscar 11
Neymar (Willian 71') 10
Feudjou 1
Djeugoue 4
Nounkeu 5
Eto'o 9
Makoun 11
Chedjou 14
Webó 15
Olinga Essono 19
Salli 20
Ndjock 23
Jefferson 1
Fernandinho 5
Dante 13
Maxwell 14
Henrique 15
Ramires 16
Hernanes 18
Willian 19
Bernard 20
Jô 21
Victor 22
Maicon 23
54%
19
11
7
19
Match Finished
Match ends, Cameroon 1, Brazil 4.
90'+5' Full Time
Second Half ends, Cameroon 1, Brazil 4.
90'+3'
Attempt missed. Nicolas N'Koulou (Cameroon)
left footed shot from outside the box misses to
the left. Assisted by Jean Makoun.
90'+3'
Foul by David Luiz (Brazil).
90'+3'
Edgar Salli (Cameroon) wins a free kick on the
right wing.
90'+2'
Attempt saved. Willian (Brazil) right footed shot
from outside the box is saved in the centre of
the goal. Assisted by Marcelo.
90'+1'
Foul by Ramires (Brazil).
90'+1'
Henri Bedimo (Cameroon) wins a free kick in
the defensive half.
90'
Dani Alves (Brazil) wins a free kick in the
defensive half.
90'
Foul by Pierre Webó (Cameroon).
89'
Foul by Luiz Gustavo (Brazil).
89'
Jean Makoun (Cameroon) wins a free kick in
the attacking half.
88'
Foul by Oscar (Brazil).
88'
Landry N'Guémo (Cameroon) wins a free kick
in the defensive half.
87'
Foul by Fernandinho (Brazil).
87'
Landry N'Guémo (Cameroon) wins a free kick
in the attacking half.
87'
Attempt missed. Landry N'Guémo (Cameroon)
right footed shot from outside the box is too
high from a direct free kick.
86'
Foul by Marcelo (Brazil).
86'
Jean Makoun (Cameroon) wins a free kick in
the attacking half.
84' GOAL!
Goal! Cameroon 1, Brazil 4. Fernandinho
(Brazil) right footed shot from the centre of the
box to the bottom right corner. Assisted by
Oscar.
84'
Offside, Brazil. Marcelo tries a through ball, but
Oscar is caught offside.
83'
Attempt blocked. Marcelo (Brazil) right footed
shot from outside the box is blocked.
82'
Corner, Brazil. Conceded by Joel Matip.
82'
Attempt blocked. Dani Alves (Brazil) right
footed shot from outside the box is blocked.
82'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
81' Substitution
Substitution, Cameroon. Jean Makoun replaces
Eric Maxim Choupo-Moting.
80'
Delay in match Luiz Gustavo (Brazil) because
of an injury.
80' Booking
Stéphane Mbia (Cameroon) is shown the
yellow card for a bad foul.
80'
Luiz Gustavo (Brazil) wins a free kick in the
attacking half.
80'
Foul by Stéphane Mbia (Cameroon).
79'
Offside, Brazil. Fred tries a through ball, but
Ramires is caught offside.
79'
Attempt blocked. Fred (Brazil) left footed shot
from the left side of the box is blocked.
Assisted by Marcelo.
75'
Foul by Oscar (Brazil).
75'
Nyom (Cameroon) wins a free kick in the
defensive half.
75'
Delay over. They are ready to continue.
75' Booking
Edgar Salli (Cameroon) is shown the yellow
card for a bad foul.
74'
Delay in match Dani Alves (Brazil) because of
an injury.
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1 4
Referee
Attendance
Jonas Eriksson
69,112