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28 March 2024

Fifa World Cup 2014: Neymar sparkles as Brazil ease through to last 16

Neymar (left) of Brazil celebrates after scoring his team's first goal with teammate Hulk during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Cameroon and Brazil at Estadio Nacional on June 23, 2014 in Brasilia, Brazil. (GETTY)

Published
By Football Correspondent and Agencies

Brazil forward Neymar shot to the top of the World Cup scoring charts with a superb double in a 4-1 win over Cameroon on Monday that sent the hosts through as Group A winners to face Chile in the last 16.

After grabbing a brace in Brazil's 3-1 win against Croatia in their opening game at the finals, Neymar was again the star of the show at an electric national stadium.

The 22-year-old struck twice in the first half either side of Joel Matip's goal for already-eliminated Cameroon, Fred nodded home at the start of the second and substitute Fernandinho scored a late fourth.

The sparkling performance meant Brazil went some way to dispelling doubts about their title credentials following last week's goalless draw with Mexico.

"The main thing today wasn’t the result but the way the team played, getting back the spirit that we had in (last year's) Confederations Cup," Fernandinho said in a television interview.

"In the first two games of the World Cup we missed that a bit," added the midfielder.

Mexico finished level on seven points with Brazil thanks to their 3-1 victory against Croatia and went through in second place due to an inferior goal difference. They will play Group A winners the Netherlands, who beat Chile 2-0 earlier on Monday.

Mexico took a 3-0 lead with late goals in Recife, rattling Brazilian nerves until Croatia scored and Fernandinho, who was introduced at halftime, made it 4-1 in Brasilia.

Brazil were ahead after 17 minutes when Luiz Gustavo won the ball on the left and his low cross was perfectly weighted for Neymar, in space in the center of the penalty area, to deftly guide the ball into the far corner.

Cameroon refused to capitulate and were level nine minutes later when Allan Nyom squared for Joel Matip to sidefoot into an empty net and momentarily silence the home fans.

Shouts of "Brazil! Brazil!" then rang out around the vast arena and the hosts were back in front in the 35th minute when Neymar ran at the defense and clipped a low shot past a wrongfooted Charles Itandje in the Cameroon goal.

Brazil made a similarly brisk start to the second period and David Luiz popped up on the left wing in the 49th to chip the ball to the far post for Fred to head home.

Neymar came off to a rapturous reception and was replaced by Willian in the 71st minute before Fernandinho clipped the ball into the corner after a well-worked move six minutes from time to complete an impressive win for the tournament favourites.

FULL-TIME

Brazil 4 (Neymar 17" 34" Fred 50" Fernandinho 85") Cameroon 1 (Matip 26")

90+2" Marcelo makes a solo run and almost ads to the tally but Istandje makes a save.

90" Four minutes added time given.

87" If Brazil can hold on to this lead for the next three minutes and Mexico finish with the same score against Russia then Brazil avoid a clash with the Dutch.

Brazil 4 (Neymar 17" 34" Fred 50" Fernandinho 85") Cameroon 1 (Matip 26")

85" GOAL! Substitute Fernandinho pokes one in to settle Brazil nerves after news poured in that Mexico lead Croatia 3-0.

82" Brazil will have to defend with 10 men as Gustavo leaves the field and Scolari has already made three substitutions.

79" YELLOW! Stephane Mbia gets a yellow for bringing down Gustavo.

77" Nice move by Brazil as Willian finds Marcelo with a long ball on the left. Marcelo traps well and crosses for Fred but a defender clears in the nick of time. 

74" YELLOW! Substitute Salli is booked for a rough tackle on Dani Alves.

72" In the other match Mexico have taken the lead against Croatia but Brazil continue to top.

69" Neymar covers a lot of ground with the ball but looks like he was tripped from behind but no foul given as the striker lay on the ground. Stunned silence. Scolari does a wise thing of replacing him.

67" Cameroon push Brazil on the defensive but are yet to trouble Cesar in goal.

64" Nguemo takes a shot across the goalmouth with the Brazilian team in disarray. The shot lacking direction.

62" Hulk is taken off and in comes Ramires.

60" Brazil look comfortably placed to top the group as Croatia and Mexico are still goalless. 

58" Benjamin Moukandjo makes way for Edgar Salli in  the Cameroon camp.

57" Hulk deprives Neymar of a hat-trick. The burly striker had to only pass the ball to Neymar who was in the clear but he acted selfish and ended with a poor shot into a defender.

54" Good challenge by David Luiz on Matip as he looked like breaking the shackles. 

Brazil 3 (Neymar 17" 34" Fred 50") Cameroon 1 (Matip 26")

50" GOAL! Fred finally gets his name on the scoresheet in the third match after nodding home Marcelo's cross.  

47" Hulk is brought down in the box but no penalty. The ball is not properly cleared and Fred has his first good try of the tourn ament but is denied by Itandje diving to his right.

46" Brazil make a change brining in Fernandinho for Paulino.

A brace by Neymar was the higlight of the first half as Brazil took a 2-1 lead against Cameroon who pulled one through Joel Matip to make for an engrossing battle at the Stadium Nacional in Brazilia.

It's not over yet for the hosts as Cameroon, who are already out, seem destined to put up a fight.

HALF TIME

Brazil 2 (Neymar 17" 34") Cameroon 1 (Matip 26")

45" Hulk misses a sitter on the stroke of half time.

44" NEYMAR, NEYMAR, NEYMAR! being chanted in the stadium as the striker charges towards a long ball only to be foiled by a defender.

Neymar of Brazil celebrates scoring his team's second goal and his second of the game during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Cameroon and Brazil at Estadio Nacional on June 23, 2014 in Brasilia, Brazil. (GETTY)

42" Eyong earns a free-kick just outside the Brazil box but Silva clears to safety after a scramble for the ball.

38" The goal, four in three, has put Neymar into the lead in the race for the Golden Boot. 

Brazil 2 (Neymar 17" 34") Cameroon 1 (Matip 26")

34" GOAL! Neymar's brilliance is to the fore again. Receiving a ball from Marcelo on the top of the box he takes on two defenders before beating Itandje with another neat placement. 

32" Cameroon push for two corners but to no avail.

30" The first 30 minutes providing a lot of action with the Indomitable Lions not willing to go down without a fight.

Brazil 1 (Neymar 17") Cameroon 1 (Matip 26")

26" GOAL! Joel Matip gets his reward this time applying the finishing touches to a cross from Nyom.

Joel Matip (left) of Cameroon  celebrates scoring his team's first goal with Allan Nyom during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group A match between Cameroon and Brazil at Estadio Nacional on June 23, 2014 in Brasilia, Brazil.  (GETTY)

25" Matip hits the crossbar from a corner.

23" Hulk and Dani Alves look threatening on the right until Hulk is flipped but the referee is unmoved.

20" This time it's Neymar's cross from the left and Fred tries desperately to beat Itandje. Both the players are on the ground but Fred is unable to give it that final touch and Cameroon escape again.

19" Neymar's bullet-like left footer is blocked by goalkeeper Charles Itandje. Brazil are showing that they are not content with just one goal.

Brazil 1 (Neymar 17") Cameroon 0

17" GOAL! Gustavo sends an inch-perfect cross to Neymar who shows deft placement to score Brazil's 100th goal in their 100th match.

14" Moukandjo's free-kick has Julio Cesar scrambling at the last minute to collect the ball after the defenders let the ball over them.

13" Aboubaker makes another fine run down th eleft but his cross is cleared hurriedly by Luiz. 

11" YELLOW! Early booking for Cameroon's Enoh Eyong for a tackle on Marcelo.

8" Cameroon make their first foray into the Brazil area and Vincent Aboubaker sees his shot directed goalwards deflect off Marcelo for a corner.

7" Marcelo makes a darting run down the left flank in a bid  to reach a long ball from David Luiz but in vain. 

4" Brazil are on the offensive knowing a goal early will soothe their nerves as Fred is blocked again by defender Bedimo.

2" A Brazilian wave of attack stuns Cameroon early as first Paulinho is blocked and from the rebound Fred hits into the Cameroon wall.

Brazil, playing in yellow jerseys and white shorts today, kick-off their 100th World Cup match with a loud cheer.

A sea of yellow engulfs the stadium and a din that reverberates as the acton is about to begin.

Stadium Nacional erupts as the teams are out for their national anthems.

If Brazil go on to win they could face Chile who finished second to the Netherlands in Group B earlier in the day. The form that the Dutch team is in and with the hosts yet to hit peak form Scolari's lads would do well to finish on top of Group A.

Tension is building up in the stadium with less than 30 minutes to go for kick-off as yellow-clad supporters greet the players with a huge roar as they venture out into the middle for a light workout. 

Brazil will be playing their 100th World Cup match, second only to Germany who achieved that feat in their first match against Spain which the Germans won convincingly.

Eto'o may not be playing tonight but shares an embrace with his ex-Chelsea team-mates Willian and Ramires, who are both on the Brazil bench.

Hulk seems to have recovered from a thigh problem as he gets Felipe Scolari's nod and will start tonight's match for Brazil against Cameroon at the Estadio Nacional, Brasilia.

Teams for Monday's 2014 World Cup Group A match between Cameroon and Brazil at the Brasilia national stadium, Brasilia.

TEAMS

Cameroon: 16-Charles Itandje; 12-Henri Bedimo, 3-Nicholas Nkoulou, 22-Allan Nyom; 17-Stephane Mbia, 21-Joel Matip, 18-Enoh Eyong, 7-Landry Nguemo, 8-Benjamin Moukandjo; 10-Vincent Aboubaker, 13-Eric Choupo-Moting

Substitutes: 1-Loic Feudjou, 2-Benoit Assou-Ekotto, 4-Cedric Djeugoue, 5-Dany Nounkeu, 9-Samuel Eto'o, 11-Jean Makoun, 14-Aurelien Chedjou, 15-Achille Webo, 19-Fabrice Olinga, 20-Edgar Salli, 23-Sammy Ndjock

Brazil: 12-Julio Cesar; 2-Daniel Alves, 3-Thiago Silva, 4-David Luiz, 6-Marcelo; 8-Paulinho, 11-Oscar, 17-Luiz Gustavo, 7-Hulk; 9-Fred, 10-Neymar

Substitutes: 1-Jefferson, 5-Fernandinho, 13-Dante, 14-Maxwell, 15-Henrique, 16-Ramires, 18-Hernanes, 19-Willian, 20-Bernard, 21-Jo, 22-Victor, 23-Maicon

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden)

TEAM NEWS

Alex Song is suspended for Cameroon following his sending off for elbowing Croatia's Mario Mandzukic in the back.

Benoit Assou-Ekotto headbutted team-mate Benjamin Moukandjo in that match and is unlikely to play, while Samuel Eto'o (knee) remains doubtful.

Brazil forward Hulk has overcome a thigh problem.

The quartet of Neymar, Thiago Silva, Luiz Gustavo and Ramires will trigger a one-match ban if booked for the second time in this tournament.

PREVIEW

Brazil look to book their place in the World Cup second round on Monday with fans hoping for a stylish victory over Cameroon to ignite their title challenge.

Brazil have failed to convince in their opening matches, grinding out a 3-1 win over Croatia before toiling to a 0-0 draw with Mexico in Group A.

However a win over an eliminated Cameroon could give them useful momentum heading into the last 16, where they would face Chile or the Netherlands.

Brazil captain Thiago Silva acknowledged the hosts had not yet fired on all cylinders as they chase a record sixth World Cup crown.

"We want to show we are a good team and can play collectively in the best manner possible," Thiago said.

"In recent games we have had some problems, but that is normal at a World Cup."

Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, under pressure along with his players after last week's goalless draw against Mexico, said he will name the same starting lineup which beat Croatia in their opening game, meaning a recall for fit-again forward Hulk.

Spain, whose title defence ended with barely a whimper after Group B reverses to the Netherlands and Chile, meet Australia in Curitiba with both nations playing only for pride.

Croatia and Mexico, who can also progress from Group A, clash in Recife, while the Netherlands and Chile, who each have a perfect six points and are through to the last 16, battle it out for top spot in Group B in Sao Paulo.

UNDER PRESSURE

Under pressure but undeterred, Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari said he would return to the same starting lineup that delivered an opening World Cup win over Croatia for Monday's Group A clash with Cameroon.

That would mean Ramires dropping to the bench and a recall for forward Hulk, who did not feature in the 0-0 draw with Mexico because of a thigh muscle problem.

"I will continue with the lineup that started the first match and depending on the performance I might make some changes," Scolari told reporters on Sunday.

"We have to be very careful, very attentive as we have not qualified."

Brazil beat Croatia 3-1 in their opener before the Mexico stalemate which left them on four points - level with the Central Americans at the top of the group, while the European side are a point back after beating Cameroon 4-0.

An unthinkable defeat against the disjointed and eliminated Africans at the Brasilia national stadium could see the hosts exit at the first hurdle for the first time since 1966.

Scolari said the pressure was on his team.

"We know we have two results to get tomorrow - a tie or victory," the 2002 World Cup winning coach said, before reciting the over used soccer mantra 'there are no easy games'.

"Of course we are all anxious, even if we had already qualified there would be anxiety over whether we would be first or second.

"This anxiety makes you make mistakes but we have been working on this in training so the players are at ease, but know in order to continue we must carry on working hard.

"I'm not going to change my team, I really trust my squad."

Ramires lasted only a half against Mexico down the left before being substituted for Bernard at the break as the Brazilian frontline struggled to break down a strong Mexican rearguard, led by impressive goalkeeper Guillermo Ochoa.

Striker Fred was another who failed to make an impact and was replaced by Jo in the second half against the Mexicans, while questions were asked about the performance of midfielder Paulinho who again looked below par.

The fiercely loyal Scolari said his side would continue to get better and dismissed concerns about the 25-year-old box-to-box midfielder.

"He has been improving his performance on what he had been doing in the past.

"I trust him, I admire him as a person, the way he is and the dedication, he might not be at his best moment but I trust him and tomorrow he will be back at a better level," he said, before discussing the team's standards.

"We already have a better tactical and physical condition than in the first match.

"In the game against Mexico we improved, that's my opinion, if we continue as we have we can win tomorrow and qualify."