TOYOTA (Japan): Neymar showed why he is the most coveted player outside Europe as he lit up the Club World Cup with a sumptuous strike Wednesday to send Santos on their way to a likely final against Barcelona.All the talk before the semifinal clash against the host side Kashiwa Reysol had been about the 19-year-old forward, and he did not disappoint, scoring a sensational first goal as the Brazilians ran out 3-1 winners.
He will probably meet Barcelona and Lionel Messi in Sunday's final, though the European champions first need to dispose of the Qataris Al Sadd in the other semifinal on Thursday.
Neymar, the young Brazilian international who has been linked with almost every top club in Europe and compared to the Argentine Messi, was almost on the scoresheet after only five minutes, but his low shot bounced off a post.On 19 minutes he did score, and it was some strike.
He picked the ball up with his back to goal, dummied inside and from outside the box unleashed an unstoppable left-footed curling shot that nestled in the top corner of the net. Goalkeeper Takanori Sugeno had no chance.
Five minutes later the South American champions went two goals ahead when striker Borges, who has been in prolific form in the past year, got away from his marker and crashed the ball into the other corner of Sugeno's goal.
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