SEOUL, June 02 (AFP): Neymar scored two calmly taken penalties as Brazil fired a World Cup warning with a 5-1 thrashing of South Korea in Seoul on Thursday.
The Paris Saint-Germain forward scored his 72nd and 73rd goals for his country to close on Pele's record of 77 for Brazil.
Neymar also upstaged South Korean captain Son Heung-min, the joint Premier League Golden Boot winner, who was kept quiet by a rampant Brazil at a packed Seoul World Cup Stadium.
Neymar's status for the match had been up in the air after he suffered a right foot injury during training on Wednesday, but he was the star of the show on a night when Richarlison, Philippe Coutinho and Gabriel Jesus all scored.
Brazil, ranked number one in the FIFA rankings, fielded a strong side and looked dangerous almost from the opening seconds with a header by Thiago Silva wiped out by an offside call.
Brazil took advantage of poor South Korean defending to take the lead on seven minutes.
Neymar closes on Pele record
Brazil thrash S Korea in int'l friendly
FE Team | Published: June 02, 2022 23:16:46
Neymar closes on Pele record
Share if you like