Brazil have found their best form at the 2016 Summer Olympics men’s football tournament at just the right time. Building off their 4-0 hammering of Denmark and 2-0 quarterfinal victory over Colombia, they’ve put in their most impressive performance yet in a 6-0 drubbing of Honduras.
They now await the winner of the Nigeria vs. Germany match in the other semifinal in Sao Paulo later today.
Brazil couldn’t have asked for a better start in front of 70,000 supporters at the world famous Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro.
Neymar scored the fastest goal in Olympic history when he closed down a dawdling Johnny Palacios outside the Honduras box. He blocked the defender’s attempted pass and was through on goal.
With the goalkeeper rushing out, Neymar’s saved toe poke rebounded off his own knee and took a fortunate glance back towards the open net. It took all of 14 seconds and Brazil never looked back.
.@neymarjr can score like this. He's good. REALLY good. #Rio2016 pic.twitter.com/ij5IKYUw92
— NBC Sports Soccer (@NBCSportsSoccer) August 17, 2016
Neymar required treatment on the field after his collision with the keeper, but he shortly reentered the match, allaying the worst of Brazilian fears.
Honduras attempted to disrupt Brazil’s rhythm by persistently fouling Neymar, but the hosts were in scintillating form.
Gabriel Jesus added the second Brazilian goal in the 26th minute. Jesus then added a third in the 35th minute off of a brilliant Neymar through ball. Going into the half at 3-0, the game was effectively over.
Gabriel Jesus scores for Brazil! That's what #MCFC fans can look forward to... pic.twitter.com/8VtwrcxBjN
— This Is FUSS (@ThisIsFUSS) August 17, 2016
Any hopes of a Honduras comeback were quickly quashed in the second half. Brazilian defender Marquinhos was inexcusably allowed to mis-control a corner kick inside the Honduras six-yard box. He then had the time to look up and cooly finish the easy chance. It was shocking defending from Honduras and confirmed their own disinterest in the remaining forty minutes of the game.
Brazil then treated their supporters to a full array of dazzling tricks, step-overs and feints. The crowd responded with cries of ‘ole’ and chants for a potential rematch against Germany — the Germans famously destroyed Brazil 7-1 at the 2014 World Cup.
Brazil added a fifth in the 79th minute, Luan tapping in after some good Brazilian movement and passing dissected the Honduras defense. The sixth was a gift to Neymar and the Brazilian public — an obvious penalty allowing Brazil's captain to convert from the spot.
Astonishingly, Brazil have yet to concede a goal at these Olympic Games — shutting out opponents for 450 consecutive minutes now.
With Neymar, Jesus and Gabriel ‘Gabigol’ Barbosa forming a devastating attacking trio, Brazil’s dreams of Olympic football gold look very real now.
The gold medal match will be played on Saturday, August 20th at the Maracana.
Follow me on Twitter: @ConmanFleming
