Brazil crush Austria 3-0 in feisty friendly

Brazil crush Austria 3-0 in feisty friendly

Gabriel Jesus PHOTO courtesy REUTERS

BRAZIL, the global soccer power house have served intent at winning the World Cup scoring three superbly-taken goals to beat feisty Austria 3-0 in sweltering conditions on Sunday to put the finishing touches to their impressive World Cup preparations. The Austrians were a bit rough and tried to bully Neymar but hard tackles but their concentration on the Brazilian jewel left gaps for Gabriel Jesus and Curtinho to exploit.

Gabriel Jesus put Brazil ahead in the 36th minute with a delightful dinked finish past Heinz Lindner.

Then Neymar, starting a game for the first time since his injury in February, added a stunning second goal in the 63rd minute. Neymar always score classy goals to define his elegant football style.

Neymar left Aleksander Dragovic on the floor with a dragback and then scored with a shot between Lindner’s legs.

Six minutes later, substitute Roberto Firmino set Philippe Coutinho clear down the left and he curled his shot wide of Lindner for the third.

Brazil last won the World Cup in 2002 and were thrashed 7-1 by Germany in the 2014 semi-finals despite hosting the tournament.

Austria: Siebenhandl, Dragovic (Danso 70), Prodl, Hinteregger, Lainer, Grillitsch (Zulj 66), Baumgartlinger, Alaba, Schopf (Hierlander 58), Arnautovic, Schlager (Burgstaller 58).

Subs Not Used: Lindner, Potzmann, Wimmer, Ilsanker, Alar, Schaub, Kainz, Bauer.

Brazil: Alisson, Danilo, Thiago Silva (Marquinhos 60), Miranda, Marcelo (Filipe Luis 67), Paulinho, Casemiro (Fernandinho 61), Coutinho (Taison 75), Willian, Gabriel Jesus (Firmino 67), Neymar (Douglas Costa 83).

Subs Not Used: Cassio, Pedro Geromel, Renato Augusto, Fagner, Ederson.