New Zealand needed to win the match and rely on a favourable result in the group’s other game between Egypt and Belarus, which Egypt won 3-0 to join Brazil in the quarter-finals.
Brazil stamped their mark on the game early with New Zealand absorbing immense pressure in the opening stages.
Just as New Zealand were adjusting to the pace at which the Brazilians were playing and beginning to claw back a foothold in the game with some sustained possession, Brazil struck through Danilo, who played a neat one-two with Leandro Damiao before producing a cute finish to beat Michael O’Keeffe.
That 23rd-minute goal was followed by another six minutes later as a back heel from Real Madrid’s Marcelo found Alex Sandro, who teed up Leandro Damiao to double the lead.
Brazil built on their halftime lead in the 53rd minute when Sandro arrived at the back post to tap in Marcelo’s free kick but were forced to play the last 15 minutes with 10 men following a pair of quick fire yellow cards to Alex Sandro, the second for a dive in the box.
New Zealand threw numbers forward with Michael McGlinchey having a close-range shot deflected over the bar and Ryan Nelsen firing in a left-foot volley from a tight angle that was cut out by a defender but the Brazilians were good enough to close out the game.
“It was very difficult for us going into this game knowing that we needed to win against a top team,” New Zealand coach Neil Emblen said.
“They’re just fantastic. We were on the bench admiring the way they’re playing, their movement and one thing you don’t talk about these players is their work rate. The way they work out of possession is just great for our lads to see. The best players are not just the best technically, they work the hardest as well.
“We’ve been beaten by a fantastic football team that I think will be gold medallists. The frightening thing was we played our best spell of football in the first half then bang, bang we’re two-nil down. We played a couple of moves through the pitch that were of Brazil standard and then they land a sucker punch and score. All of a sudden their fullbacks are playing with freedom, they’re basically playing two at the back, we’re chasing the game and can’t get out.”
Reflecting on the campaign, Emblen said the Belarus game in which they outplayed the Europeans but lost 1-0 was a crucial opportunity missed but praised his team’s spirit and the leadership of its captain, Ryan Nelsen.
“We’re disappointed with the Belarus result because I thought we did enough to win that game and if that had gone our way we’d be sitting on four points and going into the final game second in our group and under much less pressure,” he said.
“All tournament we’ve shown resilience and good Kiwi spirit and that’s obviously led by our captain who leads by example and glues the team together defensively at times. He’s an awesome presence in the group.”
The Football Ferns Olympic campaign continues on Friday when they meet defending Olympic champions USA in the quarter-finals in Newcastle.
Men’s Olympic Football Tournament
New Zealand: 0
Brazil: 3 (DANILO 23’, LEANDRO DAMIAO 29’, SANDRO 52’)
Halftime: 0-2
St James’ Park, Newcastle
August 1, 2012
New Zealand: 18-Michael O’KEEFFE (GK), 2-Tim PAYNE, 3-Ian HOGG, 5-Tommy SMITH, 6-Ryan NELSEN (captain), 7-Kosta BARBAROUSES (15-Cameron HOWIESON 46’), 8-Michael McGLINCHEY, 9-Shane SMELTZ, 10-Chris WOOD, 11-Marco ROJAS, 12-Adam THOMAS (4-Tim MYERS 46’).
Substitutes not used: 1-Jake GLEESON (GK), 13-Alex FENERIDIS, 14-James MUSA, 16-Dakota LUCAS, 17-Adam MCGEORGE
Cautions: 4-Tim MYERS 51’, 3-Ian HOGG 55’
Coach: Neil EMBLEN
Brazil: 1-GABRIEL (GK), 2-RAFAEL, 3-THIAGO SILVA (captain), 4-JUAN JESUS, 5-SANDRO, 6-MARCELO, 7-LUCAS, 9-LEANDRO DAMIAO (10-OSCAR 80’), 11-NEYMAR (17-ALEXANDRE PATO 75’), 14-DANILO, 15-ALEX SANDRO
Substitutes not used: 8-ROMULO, 12-HULK, 13-BRUNO UVINI, 14-DANILO, 16-GANSO, 18-NETO (GK)
Cautions: 15-ALEX SANDRO 70’, 76’
Red Cards: 15-ALEX SANDRO 76’
Coach: Mano MENEZES
For the full schedule and results visit www.london2012.com
Story courtesy of New Zealand Football.
For more on New Zealand Football visit www.nzfootball.co.nz

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