South Korea 0 Brazil 3:
Neymar stars as Samba Boys close in on elusive gold
By Chris Wheeler

Brazil stayed on course for that elusive Olympic gold medal, ending South Korea' s brave challenge in front of a full house at Old Trafford to set up a Wembley final against Mexico on Saturday.

Two goals from Leandro Damiao helped a Neymar-inspired Brazil to keep up their impressive record of scoring three times in all five games at London 2012, but statistics will matter little to coach Mano Menezes and his players as they chase the only prize in football to elude their country.

The South Americans may have won the World Cup a record five times – at every age-group, outdoor, indoor and even on the beach – but until now Olympic gold has eluded them.

On target: Damiao scored a brace for Brazil in the 3-0 win over South Korea on Tuesday night

Match facts

South Korea: Lee Bum-young; Yun Suk-young, Kim Young-gwon, Hwang Seok-ho, Oh Jae-suk; Koo Ja-cheol (Jung Woo-young 59), Ki Sung-yueng, Kim Bo-kyung; Nam Tae-hee, Ji Dong-won (Baek Sung-dong 77), Kim Hyun-sung (Park Chu-young 71).
Subs not used: Jung Sung-ryong, Kim Kee-hee, Park Jong-woo, Kim Chang-soo.

Booked: Ji Dong-won

Brazil: Gabriel; Rafael, Thiago Silva, Alex Sandro, Marcelo (Hulk 76); Juan Jesus (Bruno Uvini 83), Sandro; Oscar, Romulo, Neymar; Leandro Damiao (Alexandre Pato 78).
Subs not used: Lucas, Danilo, Ganso, Neto.
Scorers: Romulo 38, Leandro Damiao 57, 64

Referee: Pavel Kralovec (Czech Republic).

Brazil's failure is all the more surprising considering the calibre of teams they have entered for the Olympics in the past; the list of star names who have tried and failed is long and illustrious.

Now the class of 2012 are just one game at the home of English football away from ending the wait, and what a class they are.

In Neymar, Lucas Moura and Oscar alone, they have three of the hottest young properties in world football. The rest help make up the bulk of Brazil's senior national team. No wonder Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini watched admiringly from the stands here.

For a while their place at Wembley looked under real threat. South Korea made by far the better start and Alex Sandro and Thiago Silva both had to clear the danger when goalkeeper Gabriel was beaten inside the opening quarter of an hour, while Sunderland striker Ji Dongwon sent a super effort inches over from 25 yards.

Samba beat: Brazil are one step closer to sealing Olympic gold after beating South Korea at Old Trafford

Lee Bumyoung, the second-choice goalkeeper who came off the bench to knock out Great Britain by saving Daniel Sturridge's effort in a penalty shootout, had little to do until a poor backpass forced him to rush out and save at the feet of Leandro in the 20th minute, picking up a knock in the process.

He certainly looked out of sorts when Brazil took the lead seven minutes before half-time.

Neymar started it off by winning the ball near halfway and surging forward. He slipped a pass to Chelsea's new £25milion signing Oscar who fed Romulo and the Spartak Moscow player was able to beat the Korean keeper all to easily at his near post.

Fancy seeing you here, Roberto: Manchester City boss Roberto Mancini watched from the stands at Old Trafford

Neymar was also involved in Leandro's two goals as Brazil killed off the contest after half-time. The Santos star invited a finish by pulling the ball back from the byline after 57 minutes and although Marcelo completely missed his attempt Leandro did not, drilling it home from 12 yards.

And when Neymar teased Korea with another mazy run across the box in the 64th minute, Oscar's pass was deflected to Leandro who somehow dug the ball out from under his feet and into the bottom corner.

In so doing, he became the top scorer in the tournament with six goals. By reaching the final, Brazil have now matched their achievement at Los Angeles 84 and Seoul 88. Their predecessors couldn't finish the job. It's hard to see this team falling short now.