Cameroon 1-4 Brazil: Neymar scores twice to help secure last 16 spot for Selecao

  • Neymar scores twice to help Brazil into the World Cup last 16 with a win against Cameroon
  • Fred grabbed his first World Cup goal in eight years to put Brazil into a 3-1 lead
  • Joel Matip put Cameroon level in the first half
  • Cameroon crash out of the summer tournament
By Ian Ladyman
Published: 21:52 GMT, 23 June 2014 | Updated: 22:40 GMT, 23 June 2014

Cameroon 1-4 Brazil: Match Zone

Click here to see more from our brilliant Match Zone - including this touch map of Neymar's second goal of the game  
Team work: Neymar's second goal came after good play from the Brazilian's at the back
The 2014 version of the Brazil national football team is so full of holes it remains distinctly possible that somebody could yet give them a rather embarrassing hiding over the next fortnight.
Nevertheless, in the shape of their remarkable forward Neymar they boast a young footballer who seems determined to make this World Cup his own.
Can one player drive a nation to the ultimate glory all by himself?
Maybe not but he can make a heck of a difference and in the capital of his country last night, Neymar ensured his team ended the group stages on a rapturous high.
Certainly the Barcelona forward has tapped in to the emotion and warmth of this tournament.
On Monday night he got pushed in to the photographers by one Cameroon player and slapped in the face by another. He responded with goals, though, beautiful goals, and after each he was waving his arms at the crowd, imploring them to offer more from the towering stands of the magnificent Estadio Nacional.
Star man: Neymar (pictured) scored twice during Brazil's Group A win against Cameroon
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Star man: Neymar (pictured) scored twice during Brazil's Group A win against Cameroon

Strike: The Brazil youngster gave his side the lead with a right-footed finish in the 17th minute
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Strike: The Brazil youngster gave his side the lead with a right-footed finish in the 17th minute

Quiet: Dani Alves (left), David Luiz join Neymar as he hold his ear to the crowd
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Quiet: Dani Alves (left), David Luiz join Neymar as he hold his ear to the crowd

Match facts

Cameroon: Itandje 6; Nyom 5.5, Nkoulou 5.5, Matip 6, Bedimo 5; Mbia 6, Nguemo 6, Enoh 6.5; Choupo Moting 6 (Makoun 80, 5.5), Aboubakar 5.5 (Webo 71, 6), Moukandjo 6 (Salli 57, 5).

Subs not used: Feudjou, Assou-Ekotto, Djeugoue, Nounkeu, Eto'o, Chedjou, Webo, Fabrice, N'Djock.
Bookings: Enoh, Mbia

Goals: Matip 26'

Brazil: Julio Cesar 6; Alves 6, Silva 6, Luiz 6, Marcelo 5.5; Paulinho 5 (Fernandinho 45, 7.5), Luiz Gustavo 6.5, Oscar 6; Hulk 6 (Ramires 63, 5.5), Neymar 8 (Willian 71, 6); Fred 6.5

Subs not used: Jefferson, Dante, Maxwell, Henrique, Hernanes, Bernard, Jo, Maicon, Victor.
Goals: Neymar 17, 34', Fred 49', Fernandinho 84'
Att: 69,112
MOM: Neymar

Referee: Jonas Eriksson (Sweden) 6.5
It was a terrific sight, even if it didn’t completely mask Brazil’s frailties. There are simply too many of those to ignore but – after the lumbering Fred added a third goal in the second half and Manchester City’s Fernandinho came on to score a fantastic fourth  - it ensured that 70,000 people went home optimistic rather than concerned for the durability of Luiz Felipe Scolari’s side.
As the dust settled, it was hard to ignore Fernandinho’s impact. It is rather mysterious why Scolari doesn’t start with him. He is exactly the kind of pragmatic, intuitive holding player that this team needs.
The goal he scored was lovely, too. By the end, as Cameroon tired and ragged, Brazil had begun to knock the ball around with confidence and played their best football of the night and perhaps even the tournament so far.
Fernandinho’s goal came on the back of that football as four passes were exchanged to allow him to advance and poke a perfect shot across goalkeeper Charles Itandje and in to the far corner.
As auditions for a place in the last sixteen tie against Chile go, it was pretty convincing stuff from a player who did so much to assist City’s reclaiming of the Barclays Premier League trophy.
It is hard, though, to watch this Brazil team without being drawn to the sight of Neymar’s imperious play. A footballer with perfect balance, dextrous feet and a scrapper’s heart, he is a middleweight who punching ferociously at the highest level.
On Monday night Brazil did what Brazil do, which is to look capable and completely incapable at the same time, depending on which half of the field you were looking at. This is a team that often looks lost when it doesn’t have the ball, a team through which panic spreads when even the most basic set-piece is delivered in to their penalty area.
Follow my lead: Neymar scored again in the 34th minute as he strike got the better of Charles Itandje
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Follow my lead: Neymar scored again in the 34th minute as he strike got the better of Charles Itandje

Qualified: Brazil are through to the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup after the win against Cameroon
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Qualified: Brazil are through to the last 16 of the 2014 World Cup after the win against Cameroon

Jubilant: Joel Matip (centre) celebrates scoring Cameroon's first goal of the game against Brazil
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Jubilant: Joel Matip (centre) celebrates scoring Cameroon's first goal of the game against Brazil

Back in it: Cameroon got themselves back into the game but their joy was to be short-lived
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Back in it: Cameroon got themselves back into the game but their joy was to be short-lived

Fred scored his first World Cup goal in eight years as he headed home against Cameroon - Click here to find out more from our brilliant Match Zone service
Safe: Fred nodded home a David Luiz cross to put his side into the driver's seat against the Indomitable Lions
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Safe: Fred nodded home a David Luiz cross to put his side into the driver's seat against the Indomitable Lions

Setback: The Brazilian's react as a Joel Matip strike bring Cameroon back into the game
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Setback: The Brazilian's react as a Joel Matip strike bring Cameroon back into the game

Game over: Brazil's Fred (9) heads the ball home to give Brazil a 3-1 lead in the second half
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Game over: Brazil's Fred (9) heads the ball home to give Brazil a 3-1 lead in the second half

 

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But when he needed them to calm their nerves, Neymar did not fail them. That is why he is the talisman of Scolari’s team.
Shoved in to the hoardings by Allan Nyom early on here, Brazil’s golden child ignored the offer of a handshake and exacted perfect retribution by scoring the opening goal.
Luiz Gustavo hussled for – and won – the ball down the left and advanced to cross low towards Neymar who opened his body and side-footed the ball left to right across Itandje and in to the corner. It was a super goal.
Moments later Neymar crashed a volley goalwards from 18 yards and though Itandje saved it looked as though Brazil would run riot.
Instead their own defensive frailties allowed Cameroon back in to the contest and for 15 minutes we saw the very worst of the hosts.
Gap: The Brazilian forward wheels away to celebrate giving the Selecao a 3-1 lead
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Gap: The Brazilian forward wheels away to celebrate giving the Selecao a 3-1 lead

Royalty: Prince Harry (centre) applauds after Brazil's second goal of the game
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Royalty: Prince Harry (centre) applauds after Brazil's second goal of the game

Dani Alves sliced one cross over his own bar in the 25th minute and then headed a corner against his own post and over. From the next set piece Cameroon scored.
The ball was cleared to the left side and when Nyom picked it up, beat the flat-footed Alves at the second attempt and crossed low to the far post, David Luiz was caught on his heels as Joel Matip ambled in to score.
It was an equaliser that Cameroon deserved. They had shown some spirit and some ambition.
Pain: Neymar was substituted in the 71st minute after jarring his knee but it was though to be a precaution
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Pain: Neymar was substituted in the 71st minute after jarring his knee but it was though to be a precaution

Jubilant: David Luiz (left) roars with delight as his team all but secure a place in the last 16
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Jubilant: David Luiz (left) roars with delight as his team all but secure a place in the last 16

Complaining: Marcelo shouts after being fouled in the first half
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Complaining: Marcelo shouts after being fouled in the first half

Soon, though, Neymar arrived to hurt them again, running on to a Marcelo header, cutting inside on to his right foot to shoot low to the goalkeeper’s left from 18 yards.
That rather discouraged Cameroon and thereafter there was just one winner.
Fred looked offside when he headed in Luiz’s cross in the 50th minute but as Brazil flourished late on there was no disputing the quality of Fernandinho’s goal.
By then Neymar had departed after one heavy tackle too many. A nation will pray for his recovery.
In the air: The Barcelona star falls during the Group A World Cup clash
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In the air: The Barcelona star falls during the Group A World Cup clash

Battle: Benjamin Moukandjo (centre) is harrassed by Neymar and Mercelo (right)
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Battle: Benjamin Moukandjo (centre) is harrassed by Neymar and Mercelo (right)

Fall: Cameroon's midfielder Enoh Eyong (left) fails to get the ball of Chelsea star Oscar
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Fall: Cameroon's midfielder Enoh Eyong (left) fails to get the ball of Chelsea star Oscar

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