Neymar 4 Japan 0

Neymar 4 Japan 0

With all the criticism surrounding the National Stadium's patchy surface, it took a football genius to deliver an unforgettable evening for 51,577 screaming fans and 11 hapless Japanese opponents.

Neymar scored all four goals in the game to lead Brazil's rout of the Asian champions.

After rising for the Kallang wave, the crowd chanted the name of the Barcelona maestro for his complete performance - as he scored twice with his right foot and once with his left, before capping it off with a header.

"It's a very special day for me, I'm very emotional right now as this is a match I will never forget," said the 22-year-old, who carried the match ball in his bag.

While Japan's defenders were powerless to stop his tricks and flicks, Brazil's boy wonder was thwarted in an unlikely manner. In the third minute, his mazy dribble past four opponents was halted by the uneven pitch.

With millions across the world watching the game, Sport Singapore chief executive Lim Teck Yin blasted the hybrid surface last night, saying the Sports Hub will be held accountable for their next actions.

"The great pity was the sub-standard readiness of the pitch, which, while playable, was far from being satisfactory for an international match at any level befitting our new National Stadium," he said in a statement.


This article was first published on October 15, 2014.
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