Neymar wins gold for Brazil

Neymar scored the decisive penalty as Brazil claimed Olympic gold with a tense shootout win over Germany at the Maracana.

The Brazilian No 10, who missed the 7-1 World Cup humiliation at the hands of Germany in Belo Horizonte two years ago, scored a stunning free-kick in normal time before dispatching the winning penalty in front of more than 80,000 fans. 

Usain Bolt watched on from the stands as the two sides – with nine World Cup titles between them – played out a 1-1 draw after extra time in which Germany’s captain Max Meyer had brought his side level after Neymar’s opener. 

However, it was Neymar – who missed the Copa America earlier this summer in order to play at the Games – who proved the tournament’s decisive player to win his country their first football gold medal and their sixth of this year’s Olympics.

Bayer Leverkusen’s Julian Brandt, who roamed in from the right-hand side throughout the contest, was the first to send a gasp around the Maracana in the 10th minute, curing a long-range effort against the bar after good work from Arsenal midfielder Serge Gnabry down the left wing. 

Brazil then dominated the opening period of the game without causing Germany goalkeeper Timo Horn too many problems, barring Neymar’s set-pieces which repeatedly posed danger – he repeatedly earned free-kicks as the Germans swarmed around the Barcelona forward from the outset. 

And in the 26th minute Brazil’s favourite son produced a moment befitting of the …

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