Neymar maintained his record of scoring in each match at the Confederations Cup with a sensational free-kick that helped Brazil to a 4-2 win over Italy in their final Group A game on Saturday.
With both teams already through to the semi-finals, the match in Salvador turned into a battle to avoid world and European champions Spain in the next round.
It got off to a tentative start, but substitute Dante put Brazil ahead just before halftime and Italy leveled the game through Emanuele Giaccherini shortly after the break.
Parity lasted less than four minutes, however, as Neymar produced a moment of sheer quality for his third goal in as many games in the tournament.
Neymar earned a free kick right on the edge of the box, though he was already airborne when colliding with Christian Maggio's legs.
It seemed impossible to get the ball over the wall and beyond Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from such close range.
But Neymar nonchalantly placed a fine free-kick into the top corner, leaving Buffon a helpless bystander on his goal line.
Fred then netted twice, with Giorgio Chiellini on target in between, as the hosts headed into the knockout stage full of momentum.
"He saw that Buffon took a step to the side and he knew that he was going to hit it in the corner," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari told reporters of Neymar's goal.
"He is the hero of every Brazilian and of everyone who loves football."
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| Brazil forward Neymar scores his side's second goal against Italy from a free-kick Photo: Getty Images |
With both teams already through to the semi-finals, the match in Salvador turned into a battle to avoid world and European champions Spain in the next round.
It got off to a tentative start, but substitute Dante put Brazil ahead just before halftime and Italy leveled the game through Emanuele Giaccherini shortly after the break.
Parity lasted less than four minutes, however, as Neymar produced a moment of sheer quality for his third goal in as many games in the tournament.
Neymar earned a free kick right on the edge of the box, though he was already airborne when colliding with Christian Maggio's legs.
It seemed impossible to get the ball over the wall and beyond Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon from such close range.
But Neymar nonchalantly placed a fine free-kick into the top corner, leaving Buffon a helpless bystander on his goal line.
Fred then netted twice, with Giorgio Chiellini on target in between, as the hosts headed into the knockout stage full of momentum.
"He saw that Buffon took a step to the side and he knew that he was going to hit it in the corner," Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari told reporters of Neymar's goal.
"He is the hero of every Brazilian and of everyone who loves football."
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