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Awesome foursome for Neymar as Brazil thrash Japan

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AFP Singapore
Barcelona superstar Neymar thumped four goals past Japan in a spectacular solo performance as Brazil hammered the Asian champions 4-0, here today.

The 22-year-old Barcelona forward was a class apart at Singapore's national stadium as he scored all of Brazil's goals and nearly provided more in front of a sell-out crowd.

Neymar underlined his star billing as he moved to 40 goals in just 58 games for Brazil and gave new coach Dunga a fourth straight win with no goals conceded.

The victory also rounded off a successful Asian mini-tour for this year's World Cup hosts after Saturday's convincing 2-0 win over arch-rivals Argentina in Beijing.
 

Neymar looked dangerous from the off. In an ominous start, he had a penalty shout waved away and grazed the side-netting with a free-kick.

He duly put Brazil ahead on 18 minutes when he ran on to Diego Tardelli's penetrating through-ball, scampered around goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and finished with aplomb.

Neymar pierced the Japanese defence once again when he evaded the attentions of Tsukasa Shiotani on the left and went close with a shot which rolled across the goalface.

But Japan were not prepared to roll over and Yu Kobayashi flashed a volley over the crossbar as the Blue Samurai nearly found a quick reply.

Bundesliga's Shinji Okazaki almost found the target with a glancing header and Brazil dealt poorly with a corner on the stroke of half-time in signs of hope for Japan.

But Japanese optimism receded three minutes after the break when half-time substitute Philippe Coutinho won possession in midfield and prodded the ball forward for Neymar.

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First Published: Oct 14 2014 | 9:25 PM IST

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