Brazil triumphed 4-1 over Cameroon at the Estadio Nacional on Monday night in the World Cup 2014.
Brazilian prodigy Neymar scored a brace on either side of Joel Matip’s goal for Cameroon, before Fred and Fernandinho put the game beyond doubt for the Selecao.
The hosts began knocking the Cameroon wall right from the kick-off whistle. Zenit winger Hulk played a cut back pass to Luis Gustavo, as early as the second minute, whose shot was blocked. A few half-chances followed before Neymar finally broke the deadlock in the 17th minute.
Luis Gustavo sent a low driven cross from the left that was side-footed in by the crowd favourite. The Barcelona man had a chance to double the lead, when his thunderous volley was saved by Charles Itandje five minutes later. Fred then got at the end of a Paulinho cross but was unable to generate enough power to beat the goalkeeper.
In spite of going a goal down, Cameroon levelled up proceedings soon enough. Joel Matip headed onto the crossbar from a corner on 25 minutes, before equalising for the Indomitable Lions with a simple tap-in the next minute.
Ten minutes later, Brazil responded through Neymar yet again. The Samba star was given ample space to run and cut-in, as he let out a wicked shot to beat Itandje for the second time on the night.
The Selecao’s last opportunity of the half came via Hulk as he tested the Cameroon goalkeeper with a long range effort, that was well parried away.
The Brazilians looked equally sharp after the break as they were before. Both Fred and Neymar had decent chances to bury this game. Firstly, Fred tried his luck with a long range effort and then Neymar hit a brilliant curling free-kick that was also well saved.
However, Cameroon could not resist any longer as Fred ended his personal goal drought in the 47th minute. The centre forward was given a free header, as he met a David Luiz cross from the left.
Following Brazil’s third, the intensity of the game dropped drastically as neither side were able to create concrete chances for a while.
Neymar’s substitution was the only notable incident for quite some time in the second half. However, Cameroon’s manager made some positive changes and they looked the threaten whenever they had possession.
And surprisingly enough, Brazil played the last 10 minutes with 10 men, as Luis Gustavo had sustained an injury when all substitutions had been used up.
The Selecao, however, made sure to add a fourth goal following great play between Fernandinho, Oscar and Fred as the Manchester City midfielder scored a neat one-on-one finish in the 84th minute.
This goal meant that Brazil finish above Mexico in Group A and play Chile in the round of 16.
