Real Madrid

Brazil earned their place in the semi-finals of the London Olympic Games after beating Honduras 3-2. The Seleção were made to struggle for their victory, as they had to come from behind on two occasions, but thanks to goals from Leandro, who scored twice, and Neymar, earned their place in the semi-final. Marcelo played the entire 90 minutes and has the opportunity of reaching the final when they meet the winner of Great Britain versus South Korea in the semi-finals.

Brazil started the match by putting pressure on Honduras and had already had their first opportunity after 34 seconds, but Leandro’s effort went wide. Two more chances for Neymar in the first ten minutes appeared to indicate this would be a comfortable match for the Seleção. However, the twelfth minute of the match in Newcastle threw up a surprise as Mario Martínez put Honduras ahead off a Figueroa rebound.

After the goal, Brazil went on the attack; Leandro was their most active player benefitting from passes from Neymar and Marcelo to put Mendoza’s goal in danger. Crisanto was sent off in the thirty-third minute for two yellow cards, with the Brazilians making the most of the advantage five minutes later when they equalised. Hulk’s cross into the six-yard area was not cleared by any Honduras defender, allowing Leandro to put the ball in the back of the net and level the game 1-1. Brazil could have gone to the dressing room with a lead, when Marcelo’s powerful strike from outside the area in the fortieth minute had Mendoza at full stretch to clear it.

The second half followed the same script as the first, with Honduras taking the lead, this time thanks to a strike from outside the area by Espinoza, leaving the Brazilians with the need to come from behind. Their advantage was short-lived, however, as two minutes later Velásquez committed a foul in the penalty area on Leandro that Neymar scored to make it 2-2. Brazil then came into the ascendancy and did not take them long to go ahead. In the sixtieth minute Leandro scored again, making the most of a Neymar pass to put the ball beyond Mendoza’s reach. There was no further scoreboard action despite Honduras, who had another player sent off when Espinoza saw red, unsuccessfully trying to put Brazil’s goal under pressure. Brazil move on to the semi-finals, where they will face off against the winner of the match between Great Britain and Korea.

	Camiseta de Marcelo en la tienda del Real Madrid para España
	Camiseta de Marcelo en la tienda del Real Madrid Internacional