• Tweet

REDEMPTION: Brazil's Neymar, centre, fights for the ball with China's Miao Tang, right, during their international friendly in Recife on Monday. PHOTO: REUTERS

RELATED ARTICLES

• Football - Brazil beat China 8-0

RECIFE - Neymar scored three goals as Brazil thrashed China 8-0 on Monday, rebounding from a lacklustre win over South Africa and easing the pressure on coach Mano Menezes.

Neymar, who was among those jeered a few days ago after the poor performance against South Africa, scored in the 26th, 54th and 60th minutes at the Arruda Stadium in the northeastern city of Recife.

Ramires opened the scoring in the 22nd minute, Lucas added another in the 48th and Hulk got his goal in the 51st.

Brazil also scored through an own goal by Chinese defender Liu Jianye in the 71st, and Oscar sealed the victory by converting a penalty kick in the 75th.

Brazil beat South Africa 1-0 on Friday as fans in Sao Paulo loudly jeered the team, especially Neymar and Menezes, who was booed nearly every time he left the bench to give instructions to players or to make substitutions.

The pressure for the coach to resign increased last month after he failed to lead Brazil to the Olympic gold medal despite a squad filled with most of his top players.

The crowd of nearly 30,000 fans at the Arruda applauded the national team after Monday's match was over, though.

"Without the support from the fans everything becomes a lot harder," right back Daniel Alves said. "It was important to have the fans on our side."

Brazil didn't play a great game against China but faced fewer difficulties than they did against South Africa.