Brazil will play
Chile in the last 16 of the World Cup after beating Cameroon 4-1 in
Brasilia tonight. The result means that Luiz Felipe Scolari's side
won group A on another night when Neymar was the inspiration behind
the victory.
The host nation
started very brightly and nearly took the lead in the second minute.
Neymar played it to his right to Hulk who pulled it back for Paulinho but his
shot was cleared off the line by Allan Nyom.
Cameroon's first
effort on goal arrived in the 9th minute. Enon's deflected
cross reached Vincent Aboubakar whose shot looked to be heading in
but was blocked by Marcelo.
Brazil went in
front in the 17th minute. Luiz Gustavo won the ball back
just inside the halfway line. The Wolfsburg midfielder's excellent
cross picked out Neymar who was unmarked in the area and the golden
boy of Brazilian football side footed into the corner of the net past
Charles Itandje.
Cameroon
equalized in the 26th minute. Allan Nyom got the better of
Dani Alves down the left hand side. His precise cross picked out Joel
Matip unmarked at the back post. David Luiz was ball watching and
Matip was there to put it into an empty net.
The five time
winners went back in front in the 34th minute. After Allan
Nyom's clearance went straight to Marcelo the Real Madrid full back
played it first time to Neymar. Brazil's number 10 advanced towards
the edge of the area and his right foot shot sent Itandje the wrong
way. It was his 4th goal of the tournament and once again
the home side were back in control of the group.
It was was almost
like watching Brazil on the stroke of half time when the host nation
should have increased their lead. Neymar and Oscar combined superbly
down the left before Paulinho set up Hulk who looked certain to score
but hesitated before his shot was deflected for a corner.
Fred finally got
in on the scoring act four minutes into the second half. Substitute
Fernandinho played it to his left to David Luiz. The defender who
will play for Paris St-Germain next season crossed for Brazil's
number 9 , who looked offside but he didn't hang around and headed it
into the empty net.
Neymar was
replaced by Willian with 20 minutes to go presumably with the second
round in mind. Brazil showed that they can score without
their star player in the 85th minute. Cameroon gave the
ball away deep in their own half. Oscar who had a quiet game played
it into the path of Fernandinho and the Manchester City midfielder
who impressed after coming on finished neatly into the far corner.
After four minutes
of injury time Brazil's four goals were enough to win the the match
and the group. The party will continue until the weekend at least for
the host nation. They will be joined in the last 16 by Mexico after
their 3-1 victory over Croatia means that they finish second in the
group and will now play The Netherlands in Fortaleza on Sunday.
Cameroon; Charles
Itandje; Allan Nyom, Nicholas
Nkoulou, Henri Bedimo, Stephane Mbia, Joel Matip, Enoh Eyong, Laudry
Nguemo, Benjamin Moukandjo (Edgar Salli 59), Vincent Aboubakar
(Pierre Webo 72), Eric-Maxim Choupo Moting (Jean Mokun 81).
Booked;
Enoh Eyong (11), Edgar Salli (75), Stephane Mbia (80),
Brazil; Julio
Cesar; Dani Alves, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo, Paulinho
(Fernandinho 46) Luiz Gustavo, Oscar, Hulk (Ramires 63), Fred, Neymar
(Willian 72).
Referee; Jonas
Eriksson (Sweeden).
© Seamus Egan 2014
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