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Sunday, September 8, 2013

Neymar stars as Brazil cruise in 6-0 assault



The Associated Press 

BRASILIA, Brazil -- Neymar scored one goal and set up two more as Brazil defeated Australia 6-0 in a football friendly at Estadio Nacional on Saturday.
Jo bagged a double, both within the first half hour, and Ramires, Pato and Luiz Gustavo also scored to equal Brazil's highest score against Australia from the 1997 Confederations Cup final.
Australia never looked like troubling Brazil, which dominated possession and capitalized on a sleepy defense.
Before the match, Brazil midfielder Oscar was ruled out due to an ankle injury in training, which is sure to concern his Chelsea club boss Jose Mourinho, and just before halftime, Brazil and Real Madrid left back Marcelo was stretchered off with a left hamstring injury.
The floodgates opened in the eighth minute when striker Jo scored after Neymar's cross to Bernard ricocheted off the woodwork, only to rebound to Jo.
Jo doubled his tally in the 31st, beating Australia skipper Lucas Neil.
Neymar went close to scoring in the 22nd after dancing around three defenders within the penalty box, and didn't miss in the 35th in a one-on-one with goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer to record Brazil's third. The goal was Neymar's 25th in 41 caps.
In the second half, Ramires headed in a cross from Maxwell in the 58th, and Brazil took its foot off the pedal until the 71st, when Pato, set up by Neymar, scored.
It was the first time Schwarzer has conceded more than four goals on international duty. It was his 109th appearance.
The best, and last, goal came in the 81st from first-time scorer Luiz Gustavo, who chested the ball down, ran wide to the left and fired into the top left corner from well outside the box.