Brazil vs. Germany: 2016 Olympic Soccer Gold-Medal Game Score and Reaction

Brazil needed penalty kicks to beat Germany for the men's football gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, beating Die Mannschaft 5-4 in the shootout after playing out a 1-1 draw in regulation and extra time.

The teams served up an entertaining first half, and Neymar opened the scoring with an excellent free-kick in the 27th minute. Max Meyer pulled his side level early in the second half, and there were no more goals in regulation.

Extra time didn't see any goals either. In the shootout, Weverton saved Nils Petersen's attempt, allowing Neymar to fire Brazil to the gold.

Neymar, Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Barbosa were tasked with scoring the goals for the Brazilians, while Germany started Julian Brandt, Davie Selke and Serge Gnabry up front.

There was a ton of pressure on the hosts:

The first chance fell to Die Mannschaft, as Brandt fired a shot wide, and during a cagey first 10 minutes, the Germans had the upper hand. Brazil were nervous and not physical enough, making it easy on their opponents to control possession.

Germany sent a warning to Brazil after 11 minutes, as Brandt curled a lovely shot outside of Weverton's reach and off the crossbar. Per DW Sports' Jonathan Harding, the young forward will likely soon be moving to bigger, better things:

Luan was Brazil's liveliest presence in the opening stages, and he had a shot blocked after 14 minutes. Brazil improved as the team settled down, and soon enough, they were holding their own in the midfield battle.

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But chances were few, and when Renato Augusto got a chance from a promising position, he couldn't keep his shot on target.

Jack Lang of the Daily Mirror assumed Die Mannschaft were happy to play for a draw in the first half:

Neymar, who converted a free-kick in the 27th minute, dashed those hopes. Goalkeeper Timo Horn just about got his fingers on the ball, but he couldn't alter the flight enough to keep it out.

Per Ann Killion of the San Francisco Chronicle, the fans didn't make it easy on him during the lead-up to the kick:

Germany tried to hit back through Meyer, who drew a fine save from Weverton with a sharp shot from the edge of the box. An odd sequence saw a free-kick fall on the top of the crossbar, and Sven Bender also hit the woodwork with a powerful header, as the hosts were lucky not to concede their first goal of the tournament.

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Brazil had their chances to double the lead as well, with Horn looking shaky on a corner late in the first half. One last free-kick fell to nothing as the hosts went into half-time with the lead.

Selke fired the first chance of the second half high over the bar, pouncing on a rebound after Gnabry's free-kick hit the wall. The forward then ran into a booking for no apparent reason, and the official decided not to brandish a yellow for a harsher foul by Bender just a minute later.

Lang was bemused:

Gnabry struggled to beat his marker and ruined a handful of promising opportunities by losing the ball as Germany dominated possession after the break. The final pass was lacking, however, and Brazil were happy to sit back and aim for the counter.

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But the first incisive attack of the half produced a goal for Die Mannschaft, as Meyer fired a first-time finish beyond Weverton after a fine assist from Jeremy Toljan.

Football writer Cristian Nyari is a fan of the 20-year-old:

Brazil seized control again, but both Jesus and Augusto couldn't keep their efforts on target. Gabigol had a shot blocked by Niklas Sule before Grischa Promel replaced Lars Bender, who suffered an injury.

The pace of the match increased as time wore down. Toljan tried his luck with an effort from long range, putting the ball wide, and a series of Brazilian corners led to nothing.

Luan wanted a penalty for an apparent trip by Sule, but the official didn't budge, and replays suggested the Brazilian dived. 

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Felipe Anderson was sent through on goal by Neymar but took too long to get the ball under control, allowing the defender to return in time, and Neymar fired a curling shot just wide of Horn's goal. Brazil were in control, but Luan couldn't bend his shot over Horn. And Jesus missed his shot completely, putting it wide.

Germany tried their luck with a counter, with Meyer putting a shot wide, and the Schalke man needed some treatment for cramps after sprinting across the entire pitch. Walace fired a shot well wide of goal as the 90 minutes were up. Injury time didn't yield any more chances:

Rafinha replaced Jesus early in the first half of extra time, but Germany again took control of the ball, with the hosts aiming for the counter. Brandt nearly scored a stunning goal with the outside of his foot after a cross from Petersen, but the acrobatic effort proved too difficult to pull off.

Fatigue set in on both sides, and chances were few in the first half. Anderson had a golden opportunity after a great pass from Neymar early in the second, but Horn left his line in time and blocked the shot.

Brazil were the better team in the second half of extra time, but Sule was a rock at the back for Die Mannschaft. Neymar curled a shot over the bar, and he was called back for offside a few minutes later.

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Gnabry had a shot blocked after a wonderful passing move, and the Germans took control of the ball after that chance, killing the clock and playing for penalties. Rafinha also had a shot blocked with time ticking down, and spot-kicks had to decide the winner.

Matthias Ginter scored the first penalty for Germany, as did Augusto for his side, and Gnabry got lucky with his strike as Weverton dived over the ball and nearly blocked it out. Marquinhos, Brandt, Rafinha, Sule and Luan all followed suit before Weverton saved Petersen's shot.

Neymar was the last penalty-taker, and he sent Horn the wrong way, ending a fantastic final.

Post-Match Reaction

Despite scoring Brazil's lone regulation goal and the match-clinching penalty, Neymar did not speak after the win, per Sports Illustrated's Grant Wahl. 

But with the demons left after the 2014 World Cup somewhat exorcised, Brazil manager Rogerio Micale saw this win as a reassuring one, per USA Today's Nate Scott:

"

#BRA coach Rogerio Micale on what win means after disappointing last WC: "This phase has passed ... Brazilian football is not dead."

— Nate Scott (@aNateScott) August 21, 2016"

He added "we have great potential and hope to achieve more great things in the future," per ESPN's Wayne Drehs. 

While the win might not completely erase the memory of the World Cup, Brazil can celebrate its first gold medal—something even Pele couldn't do. 

Sure, it's likely that Neymar will play on larger stages—whether it be for Brazil or Barcelona—but he will always be connected to this day.