adminWednesday night.
Neymar met the ball at a difficult height after Mexico defender Francisco Rodriguez failed to properly clear a header and showed great technique to volley the ball left-footed past Jose Corona in the ninth minute.
He brought the crowd to its feet again in stoppage time when he slipped between two Mexican defenders and crossed for substitute Jo to score easily.
Earlier, the Barcelona-bound 21-year-old said on Facebook that he had been “inspired” by the protests which have rocked Brazilian cities in the last few days.
Brazil, who have won both Group A games without conceding a goal, dominated the first 20 minutes but Mexico, who have lost their two matches, came close to an equaliser several times.
The game went ahead against the backdrop of demonstrations outside the stadium with protesters demanding “health, education, not corruption.”
The nationwide protests were sparked last week by transportation fare increases, which came as Brazil struggles with annual inflation of 6,5 percent, unleashing a tide of complaints that caught authorities off guard.
Inside the stadium, fans enthusiastically sang the national anthem and some held up signs saying: “This protest is not against the national team but against corruption.”
On the field, Brazil produced an electrifying opening with Neymar, who was at the heart of many of the quick counter-attacks, rifling another shot over the crossbar.
In the second half, Brazil attacked only in fits and starts, one of their best chances falling to Hulk who played a delightful one-two with Neymar but then spoiled it by firing wide from six metres. He also had a shot turned away to Jose Corona after Paulinho had run half the length of the pitch before laying the ball off.
Substitute Sebastian Giovinco tapped in a late goal to secure Italy a thrilling 4-3 win over Japan on Wednesday and a semifinal berth in the Confederations Cup.
Giovinco slotted home the winner in the 86th minute after latching onto a cross in the area, capping a pulsating contest that saw the Azzurri edge ahead with three consecutive goals after trailing 2-0 before halftime.
Shinji Okazaki nodded a lovely, glancing header past Italy keeper Gianluigi Buffon from a Yasuhito Endo free kick to level at 3-3 in the 69th minute, and Japan tried desperately to respond to Giovinco’s late score in a frenetic finish but to no avail.
Italy join Brazil in the semi-finals and might consider themselves lucky after starting poorly and benefiting from an own goal by Japan defender Atsuto Uchida.
Coach Alberto Zaccheroni worried his side might be overawed by the four-times world champions but they began confidently and had their first goal in the 21st minute when Keisuke Honda slotted home a penalty kick after Buffon was adjudged to have brought down Okazaki.
The Blue Samurai doubled their lead in the 33rd minute after the Italian defence missed a high ball and it fell to Shinji Kagawa who swiveled and hammered it home.
Italy pulled one back in the 41st minute when de Rossi rose to powerfully head home a Pirlo corner and almost had an equaliser on the stroke of halftime when Emanuele Giaccherini hit the post after Mario Balotelli had set him up with a deft header.
Italy’s second goal came just five minutes after the restart when Maya Yoshida was caught in possession by Giaccherini and Uchida turned his cross ball into his own net with Balotelli waiting to pounce.
Italy took the lead in controversial circumstances just two minutes later after Makoto Hasebe was harshly punished for a handball in the box and Balotelli made no mistake from the spot. — Reuters.
Online Reporter