International friendly: Brazil rout Australia 6-0
Five time world champions Brazil put six goals past against a hapless Australia, who have already qualified for next year’s World Cup finals. The 46th-ranked team in the world hardly tested the hosts in Brasilia.
It was a complete team effort from the Samba boys as Jo scored twice while Neymar, Alexandre Pato, Ramires and Luis Gustavo chipped in with a goal each to thrash the visitors on the night.
Former Manchester City player Jo started the carnage after just eight minutes, after some individual brilliance by Neymar down the left.
The Barcelona star picked out Bernard with an accurate cross, but Bernard’s volley rebounded off the post and fell kindly for Jo to tap in from six yards.
Australia were unable to keep the ball for sustained periods and were duly exposed by a lightning paced Brazil counter-attack.
Norwich player Brett Holman carelessly played the ball wide on the halfway line and Brazil broke at pace as Bernard’s cross was hammered in again by Jo, who was at full throttle.
The worse was yet to come, as the visitors were 3-0 down moments later when Neymar’s run was not followed. He latched on to a through-ball before slotting an angular shot past a helpless Mark Schwarzer.
Meanwhile, the only cause of worry for the Selecao will be Marcelo’s injury, as he was forced off the field at half-time.
In the second-half, Ramires scored a rare goal from a header, out-jumping Matt McKay at the back post on 58 minutes, to score against his Chelsea team-mate Schwarzer.
Neymar, whose influence grew as the game went on, was involved in Brazil’s fifth when Australia again failed to track his trademark run, allowing him to put the ball on a platter for substitute Pato, who smashed in at the near post.
Luis Gustavo hammered in the last and probably the best goal on the night, seven minutes from the end when he combined with Neymar before unleashing a thunderous shot into the top corner from 25 yards out.
Brazil, though, will be in for a tougher test when they take on Portugal, on Tuesday, in a friendly at Boston. Meanwhile, Portugal will be without Cristiano Ronaldo for the friendly.
Here are the highlights of the match: