Scotland go down to Neymar double
Sunday, March 27, 2011
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Brazil 2-0 Scotland
Teenage forward Neymar scored a goal in each half as Scotland went down to defeat against Brazil at the Arsenal Stadium in London.
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Brazil 2-0 Scotland
Scotland went down 2-0 to Brazil in a one-sided friendly match at the Arsenal Stadium in London, Neymar scoring a goal in each half.
Scotland may have won their previous two matches but they had lost seven of their nine previous meetings with Brazil and the outcome held no surprises. The South Americans soon had the Scots penned inside their own half and began threatening from the quarter-hour when Ramires headed over.
Jadson tested Allan McGregor with a low shot, then Leandro Damião headed against the bar before, three minutes from half-time, the impressive Neymar struck. Collecting a low ball from André Santos from the left, the 19-year-old forward swept a superb effort around McGregor and into the far corner.
Scotland's only opportunity to that point had been a Steven Whittaker header from Charlie Adam's free-kick that missed the far post and Brazil remained on top after the interval. McGregor made a fine double save to deny Leandro Damião, then Ramires blazed a clear opportunity over. Neymar doubled the lead after 77 minutes, however, by sending McGregor the wrong way from the penalty spot after he was tripped by Adam.
It could have been three for Brazil but Jonas fired over in added time, to the Scots' relief. Craig Levein's men are next in UEFA EURO 2012 qualifying action in September with a home double-header against the Czech Republic and Lithuania.