Brazil players Neymar (L) and Luan celebrate their quarterfinals win over Colombia in the 2016 Rio Olympics. (Photo : Getty Images)
Tournament hosts and gold medal favorites Brazil will face dark horse squad Honduras in the semifinals of the 2016 Rio Summer Olympics men's football tournament set at the Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro on Wednesday, August 17.
Brazil started the tournament on a low note after successive goalless draws in the first two rounds of the group stage against South Africa and Iraq in Group A. They finally found their game in the third round with a 4-0 dismantling of Denmark when the Gabriel duo of Barbosa and Jesus finally unleashed their offensive prowess, scoring a combined three goals in the said match.
It also marked the first time head coach Rogério Micale implemented the 4-2-3-1 formation with Neymar as the single lead striker from the 4-3-3 one where the Brazilian captain and two Gabriels are up front.
The team continued to use the said formation in the quarters against Colombia and it proved to be effective again as they came away with a 2-0 win at the Arena Corinthians in São Paulo last Saturday to advance to the final four, as per Daily Mail Online.
Neymar netted his first goal of the Olympics during the match as Barcelona forward opened the scoring at the 12th minute. Defender Luan then doubled the lead with seven minutes left before full time, off an assist from Neymar, to seal the quarterfinal victory for the hosts.
Meanwhile, Honduras pulled off a 1-0 upset over South Korea in their own quarterfinal fixture also last Saturday held at the Mineirão in Belo Horizonte, NBC Olympics reported.
Striker Alberth Elis provided the winning goal right at the hour mark of the match with the assist coming from teammate Romell Quioto.
Honduras placed second to Portugal in the Group D standings after the group stage with a 1-1-1 win-loss-draw record. They held another tournament favorite, Argentina, to a 1-1 draw during the third round to qualify to the last eight via a superior goal difference over the Albicelestes.
The predicted result is a close 2-1 win for Brazil.
Brazil starting lineup (4-2-3-1 formation): Weverton; Zeca, Marquinhos, Caio, Santos; Walace, Augusto; Gabriel, Luan, Gabriel Jesus; Neymar
Honduras starting lineup (5-4-1 formation): Lopez; Alvarez, Pereira, Palacios, Vargas, Garcia; Elis, Banegas, Acosta, Quioto; Lozano
