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Olympic Games 2016

Brazil’s Neymar leads country to football gold in historic game against Germany

"I have fulfilled my dream and to have fulfilled it in my home country makes me very proud," said Neymar, the star forward, after shooting the winning penalty kick that gave Brazil the gold medal on Saturday.

Brazilian star Neymar cries on the field following Brazil's win against Germany on Saturday.
Brazilian star Neymar cries on the field following Brazil's win against Germany on Saturday. REUTERS/Marcos Brindicci
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It may not have been quite enough to recover from Brazil’s embarrassing 2014 World Cup performance, but Rio de Jainero’s Maracana Stadium was filled with national pride and a sense of relief on Saturday, after Brazil defeated Germany, securing the nation’s first Olympic football title.

Brazil won 5-4 to Germany on penalty kicks, after the match was left tied 1-1 at the 120 minute mark. The Olympic host country’s much needed victory came after an embarrassing and all too memorable 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semifinals of the 2014 World Cup.

This time around, however, redemption was served to the thousands of Brazil fans at Maracana who cheered “Champions!” following Brazil’s win.

The star of the game, 24-year-old Barcelona forward Neymar, scored both Brazil’s first goal of the match, and the winning penalty after Brazilian goalkeeper Weverton saved an attempt from Nils Petersen in the fifth round of penalties.

“That’s it,” said Neymar, following the match. “We made history.”

Germany started off the game strong, with Julian Brandt just missing a goal in the 11th minute.

Neymar gave Brazil the first goal of the game in the 27th minute with a spectacular free kick, but Germany silenced the stadium with a goal in the 59th minute of the game.

The winning penalty kick gave Neymar and the rest of the Brazil team a fairytale finish, reinstating the country’s optimism after the 2014 World Cup strongly wounded many fans’ pride.

“This phase has now passed,” said Brail coach Rogerio Micale. “We can look forward to the future more confident and proud. Brazilian football is not dead.”

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