Brazil held goalless in Olympic opener
Print Edition
BRAZIL failed to make a winning start despite home advantage, a multi-million dollar strike force and a man advantage as it was held 0-0 by South Africa in its opening soccer match at the Rio Olympics on Thursday.
Brazil, which has never won the Olympic gold, started with a highly-rated front three of Neymar, new Manchester City signing Gabriel Jesus, and 19-year-old Gabriel Barbosa, the Santos striker expected to head to Europe.
But the little-known South Africans matched the hosts until they had Mothobi Mvala sent off just before the hour. Brazil pinned its opponent down after that but just could not score.
“That’s football,” Barbosa said in a TV interview after some fans in the 69,000 crowd had booed the team as they left the field. “Sometimes the ball doesn’t go in the net.”
Barcelona striker Neymar had two of Brazil’s best chances, forcing goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune to make diving saves to thwart two rasping drives from outside the box. Jesus smacked the ball off the post from two yards out when it looked easier to score, while Barbosa should have done better when he scuffed a shot with only the ‘keeper to beat.
But a big crowd at the National Stadium in Brasilia went home unhappy after the second game of the day ended goalless.
That result was not the only surprise as its great rival Argentina lost 0-2 to Portugal. It was the South Americans’ first Olympics reverse in 13 games. Argentina was unbeaten in winning gold during its last two appearances in 2004 and 2008.
Holder Mexico drew 2-2 with Germany in Salvador, with all four goals coming in the second half.
Also, South Korea put eight goals past debutante Fiji in Salvador while Nigeria beat Japan 5-4, Iraq and Denmark drew 0-0 and Honduras beat Algeria 3-2.
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