Gabriel Jesus scores as Brazil beat Denmark to reach Olympic Games football quarter-finals
By Andy Charles
Last Updated: 11/08/16 9:59am
Hosts Brazil finally found their form to reach the quarter-finals of the Olympic Games football tournament with a 4-0 win over Denmark.
Barcelona star Neymar was at the heart of most of Brazil's best work as they improved from 0-0 draws with South Africa and Iraq to make their way into the last eight and a mouth-watering clash with Colombia.
Gabriel Barbosa gave Brazil an early lead and Manchester City-bound Gabriel Jesus made it 2-0 before half-time.
Neymar was part of the move that led to Luan making it 3-0 and, after an injury scare, came back on to the field to help set up Barbosa's second.
"I'd be lying if I didn't say it wasn't a relief," Gabriel Jesus said. "I was under pressure, not just because I hadn't scored but because the team hadn't scored. But we played well and we got all three points.
"Today we had more spirit and we made it easy in the end. We managed to score goals, which was something that we hadn't done before.
"We managed to find each other and I think teamwork is where we excel. We deserve to be congratulated for the way we played. As from tomorrow we start thinking about the quarter-final."
Denmark go through despite their heavy defeat and they face Nigeria, who also lost their last group game, going down 2-0 to the Colombians.
Two of Colombia's over-age players scored the goals - Teofilo Gutierrez getting the first after four minutes and Dorlan Pabon doubling their advantage from the penalty spot after 63 minutes.
But there is no place in the quarter-finals for either Argentina or Mexico.
Argentina, who were Olympic champions in 2004 and 2008, crashed out after they were held to a 1-1 draw by Honduras in Group D.
Honduras progress to a meeting with South Korea, who knocked out Mexico when they claimed a 1-0 win thanks to a 77th minute Kwon Chang-Hoon goal.
Also going through from Group C are Germany, who cruised to a 10-0 win over outclassed Fiji, with Max Meyer helping himself to a hat-trick and Arsenal's Serge Gnabry scoring twice.
They face Portugal for a place in the last four with all four quarter-finals scheduled for Saturday.
