Neymar Scores Fastest Goal In Olympic History As Brazil Rout Honduras 6-0 To Reach Final

Neymar has proven again why he is one of the world’s top soccer players.

The Brazilian striker scored 15 seconds into Wednesday’s Olympic game against Honduras–the fastest goal in the Games’ history– to lead his country to a resounding 6-0 semifinal victory.

Neymar Scores Fastest Goal In Olympic History As Brazil Rout Honduras 6-0 To Reach Final

The 24-year-old Barcelona star also scored on a penalty in the final minutes of the match, in stoppage time.

The host country will face Germany in Saturday’s final. Germany topped Nigeria 2-0 in Wednesday’s other semifinal thanks to goals by Lukas Klostermann and Nils Petersen.

“Scoring a goal that early was spectacular for us,” Brazil coach Rogerio Micale said. “It helped us break the game open and it made everything easier.”

Neymar’s first goal came when Honduras defender Johnny Palacios gave up the ball at the top of the penalty box as the Brazilian closed in rapidly, he fired a shot that was initially blocked by the goalkeeper, who had rushed out, but the ball bounced off Neymar’s leg and rolled into the net to give Brazil a 1-0 lead.

The crowd of more than 70,000 fans at the Maracana Stadium in Rio de Janeiro roared.

The previous fastest goal in the Rio Olympics had been scored by Canada’s Janine Beckie, who scored just 20 seconds into her country’s game against Australia in the women’s tournament. Before that, Mexico forward Oribe Peralta held the record for fastest goal at the Olympics after scoring 29 seconds into the final in London four years ago, when the Mexicans upset Brazil 2-1 to win the gold. Honduras striker Alberth Elis had tied that mark in a game against Portugal in the group stage at the Rio Games.

Gabriel Jesus added two goals for Brazil in the first half of Wednesday’s game, and Marquinhos and Luan each scored a goal in the second.

Neymar set up Jesus’ second goal with a perfect through ball behind a defender. The 19-year-old forward– who signed with English club Manchester City before the Olympics– entered the area and hit the top of the net for his third goal at the Olympic tournament. Marquinhos, a defender, scored the fourth goal off a corner in the 51st minute, shooting from close range after the defense failed to clear the cross into the area. Luan added another in the 79th after a perfect cross by Felipe Anderson.

Brazil is seeking its first-ever Olympic gold medal in men’s soccer.

“We won and we won well, but if in the final we don’t play well again, all of this will be for nothing,” Brazil midfielder Renato Augusto said. “We don’t want to disappoint the fans. They want us to play well and they want us to win the gold.”

Brazilian fans are now surely hoping for a different result this year against Germany, who embarrassed Brazil 7-1 on their own soil in the World Cup semifinals in 2014.

Hey Germany, just wait, your turn is coming up,” the fans chanted at the Maracana.

The Olympic gold medal is the only major trophy the five-time World Cup champions haven’t won in soccer.

Brazil had a shaky start to the Olympic soccer tournament, being held to scoreless draws against South Africa and Iraq and facing the danger of an early elimination.

However, Neymar and the rest of the squad recovered just in time to defeat Denmark 4-0 in the final group match and eliminating Colombia 2-0 in the quarterfinals.

Now, they are just one victory away from taking the coveted Olympic gold.

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – AUGUST 17: Neymar of Brazil in action during the Men’s Semifinal Football match between Brazil and Honduras at Maracana Stadium on Day 12 of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games on August 17, 2016 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Article by Pablo Mena