Four-some Neymar sees off Japan

14 October 2014 14:01

Neymar scored all four goals as Brazil thrashed Japan 4-0 in an international friendly in Singapore.

The Barcelona star opened the scoring in the 17th minute and then added three more in the second half to complete a one-sided triumph and earn new Brazil boss Dunga a fourth successive win since he replaced Luiz Felipe Scolari after the World Cup.

As well as moving onto 40 goals from 58 appearances for his country, Neymar was also celebrating a 'perfect' hat-trick, with his goals coming from his right foot (two), left foot and head.

The 22-year-old might even have recorded an even bigger personal haul at Singapore's National Stadium but he saw his early free-kick smash against the crossbar when the game was still goalless.

It did not take the former Santos player much longer to open the scoring, though, Diego Tardelli threading a ball through which Neymar latched onto before rounding Japan goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and slotting into the roof of the net.

A similar move saw Neymar add a second in the 48th minute as he got in behind a high Japan backline to pick up Philippe Coutinho's perfectly-timed pass and then fire past Kawashima.

Neymar almost turned provider in the 77th minute with a cross that Kaka headed against the bar, but Japan failed to clear the danger and, after Coutinho had picked the ball up and drilled in a shot that Kawashima parried, Neymar was in the right place to side-foot into the gaping net.

That completed Neymar's third hat-trick for his country, but it was not the end of his contribution as he added a fourth three minutes later when he headed home Robinho's dinked cross from the left.

Man of the match Neymar said: "I am so happy that I could achieve this dream. Not in my best national squad dreams did I think of this, I have no words but to thank God."

He added: " Dunga always says that the best way to respect a rival is to do everything to beat them. And we did everything, not only score goals.

"I don't know what my limit is. I only want to help my team-mates in the Selecao, that's the most important thing."

Source: PA