Neymar's Magic Keeps Brazil on Course for Olympic Gold

After a disappointing start, Brazil are just two games away from that long-awaited gold medal in Rio. And the host's Olympics chances received another timely boost with captain Neymar's goalscoring introduction to the competition against Colombia as they overcame their South American rivals 2-0 in the quarter-finals. 

The Barcelona star had endured a discreet group phase as the Selecao coughed and spluttered their way to qualification. The senior figure of the Brazil attack, Neymar had been happy to drop back into the playmaking role as the Gabriels, Jesus and Barbosa, took up positions in the opposition penalty area. 

But in arguably their toughest test to date, the home team needed a match-winner in Arena Corinthians. Up stepped the skipper, a veteran of 70 international caps already at the tender age of 24—comfortably more than the rest of the Brazil Olympics team combined—to lead them past dangerous Colombia. 

Just 12 minutes had been played of Saturday's quarter-final clash, a repeat of the 2014 World Cup match, when Neymar stepped up just outside the Colombia box. That last match was bittersweet for the forward. Brazil triumphed 2-1 with goals from defensive duo Thiago Silva and David Luiz, but a nasty clash with Juan Zuniga towards the end forced the star off the field with a damaged vertebra. 

Neymar would go on to miss his nation's 7-1 humiliation against Germany in the next round, and while thoughts of revenge were most likely the furthest from his mind this weekend, the chance to take down the Cafeteros was unmissable. This time, the ball obeyed his wishes: Goalkeeper Cristian Bonilla had no chance as he swerved a wicked effort inside the near post, giving the Selecao a lead they would never relinquish. 

Leo Correa/Associated Press

The quarter-final clash was a different prospect from the three group contests Brazil had previously played. Against South Africa, Iraq and Denmark they had been far superior, peppering the opposition goal with shots of varying accuracy. Colombia, however, matched the hosts blow for blow, between them staging one of the hardest-fought clashes of the tournament to date. 

Six Colombian players were cautioned over the course of the match, while referee Cuneyt Cakir held up play no less than 39 times for foul play. It made for a tense, disjointed match, still well up for grabs after Neymar had blasted Brazil into the lead.

If the Denmark test had proved Brazil had the goals in them to keep fighting, Saturday's slugfest demonstrated they also had resolve to spare against an intense opponent. 

Having been such a constant threat in front of goal during the first round, Teo Gutierrez was almost completely nullified by a defence still yet to concede a goal in this Olympics.

Colombia were galvanised after half-time when Atletico Nacional's Copa Libertadores hero Miguel Borja was thrown into action, but despite several decent efforts the Selecao held firm and put the game out of reach in the decisive moments. 

With just seven minutes to play, and with the Colombia defence dangerously exposed, the ball broke for Luan just outside the Cafetero area. The Gremio striker's introduction into the already-offensive Brazil lineup had been Rogerio Micale's big gamble ahead of the Denmark clash, and it was vindicated by an excellent showing. And he showed once more why he fully deserved a place in the team by steering his shot up and over Bonilla to secure a place in the semi-final for the improving home side. 

After the game, Luan highlighted the importance that Neymar's knowledge of the pressures of football's top level has on the team. "He has the experience, he helped us keep hold of the game, which was crucial, but our team is doing well," the youngster told SporTV (in Portuguese). 

"We soaked up their pressure and managed to come out of here with a nice victory. The guys hit us a lot, but our team also battled for the ball. We got the goals, took the pressure at the start of the game, it was very tense, but we came out of it with the win." 

Coach Micale, meanwhile, defended Neymar after a nasty tackle on Andres Roa that could well have led to the captain's expulsion. "He had been provoked constantly for 45 minutes, but he is human," he told reporters after the game, per Globoesporte (in Portuguese). 

Leo Correa/Associated Press

"Nobody can stay in control all the time. He went in strong for the tackle, like [Colombia] had done on him before. After that he did not lose control. He did not fall for the provocations, he carried himself like a captain."

Indeed, it was a captain's performance from the Brazilian standard-bearer, and one they must hope is repeated in the decisive rounds to come. Honduras now lie in wait for the Selecao in the semi-finals, while Nigeria and Germany dispute the other last-four clash to decide what is already guaranteed to be a blockbuster final. 

Neymar carries a unique responsibility at these Olympics. He had insisted from the beginning that he dreamed of leading his side out on home soil, even turning down a place at the Copa America—a decision that potentially lost Dunga his job as coach following a disastrous first-round exit—in order to pursue the chance of taking Brazil to a first-ever gold medal. 

After an awful start to the Games there was a possibility of that dream turning into a nightmare. But Brazil are now on a roll, and the Colombia clash was the first sign that Neymar is ready to join the party. 

He played the role of hero in Sao Paulo on Saturday, and he might well have ended up as the villain had referee Cakir been less reluctant with his cards. But that is now irrelevant. Neymar played the game all of Brazil was waiting for, and if he can continue his upward ascendancy the nation can keep their hopes of Olympic gold well and truly alive.