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MOTD- Brazil 3-0 Japan

By on June 15, 2013

Brazil have kicked of the 2013 Confederations Cup with a win over Japan, which saw The Selacao come together nicely to finish off an inferior Japan side in the first ever international match that had goal-line technology. Luiz Scolari’s side scored in the first and last moments of the game to help them top Group A in the first match of the World Cup 2014 preparation tournament.

The hosts of the tournament began the match confidently stroking the ball around the back, but surprisingly found themselves in front only three minutes into their first competitive match in 700 days. Marcelo’s driven long ball from the left flew straight to Fred, who chested it down for Neymar to sweetly hit a stunning volley from the edge of the box into the top left corner of the net. Japan responded well to the goal though, surprisingly passing their way around Brazil and creating chances with their good movement causing the hosts problems. Yuto Nagatomo tried his luck at a long range free-kick in the sixth minute, and his dipping effort bounced before Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who smartly palmed the ball away.

Although Japan looked dangerous, Brazil even more so, with Scolari’s side seeing most of the ball. Hulk almost forced an own goal out of the Japan side after charging down the right and sending in a low which deflected off the leg of a Japan defender and forced goalkeeper Eiji Kawishima to awkwardly kick the ball away. Hulk again almost opened the scoring after breezing by Nagatomo, but the Zenit Saint-Petersburg forward saw his low driven shot fly inches wide of the post from the edge of the box.

Brazil continued to search for a second goal in the start of the second half, and found themselves two goals up seconds after the restart. Dani Alves’ cross from the right fell to Paulinho, who turned with he ball before firing a low shot from sixteen yards past Kawishima into he back of the net. Japan put pressure on Brazil after going further behind with Okazaki somehow shooting inches wide of the post from six yards out. But Brazil slowly continued to breach down their Asian opponents, and netted a third with the last kick of the game. Oscar broke forward on a counter-attack and slipped a brilliant brought ball in to the run of Jo, who took a touch before poking it past Kawishima into the back of the net. Seconds later the referee blew for full time, with Brazil earning their first competitive win in over two years.
Man of the Match: Neymar

About Alex Morgan

Alex Morgan, founder of Football Every Day, lives and breaths football from the West Coast of the United States in California. Aside from founding Football Every Day in January of 2013, Alex has also launched his own journalism career and hopes to help others do the same with FBED. He covers the San Jose Earthquakes as a beat reporter for QuakesTalk.com and his work has also been featured in the BBC's Match of the Day Magazine.