BRASILIA: Red-hot striker Neymar helped fire Brazil into a World Cup second-round meeting with Chile when he scored twice in the first half as the hosts survived an early scare against already-eliminated Cameroon to win 4-1 and top Group A on Monday (Tuesday in India).
Brazil’s leading striker tucked in the first after 17 minutes from a Luiz Gustavo cross – the 100th goal of the tournament in Brazil’s 100th World Cup match – but the delirious home crowd of over 69,000 were silenced nine minutes later when Joel Matip equalised moments after he had hit the bar with a header.
Neymar cut inside to fire in his second, and fourth of the this World Cup, in the 35th minute and Brazil cruised home with a Fred header four minutes into the second half and a goal for substitute Fernandinho six minutes from time.
Fred found the net with a 49th-minute header after a left-flank cross by defender David Luiz. But the striker said there was more to it.
“As incredible as it seems, the ball came in hard and it ended up hitting my mustache,” Fred said. “It was a mustache goal.”
Teammate Neymar said he was the one who told Fred not to shave his upper lip, predicting it might turn things in his favour.
The hosts and favourites finish with seven points and will face Group B runners-up Chile in Belo Horizonte on Saturday.
Mexico came second after a 3-1 win over Croatia and will play Netherlands. Cameroon were last after losing all three games.
Mexico marched into the last-16 after second-half goals from Rafael Marquez, Andres Guardado and Javier Hernandez gave them a 3-1 win over Group A rivals Croatia.
Mexico, who finish second in the group behind hosts Brazil, will face the Netherlands in the second round in Fortaleza on Sunday.
Skipper Marquez broke the deadlock with a thundering header in the 72nd minute before Andres Guardado finished off a swift counter-attack.
Hernandez made it 3-0 with a back post header from a corner and although Croatia pulled a goal back in the 87th minute through Ivan Perisic they had Ante Rebic sent-off for an awful challenge two minutes later. (Reuters)
