Jo hits brace in thrashing

Jo celebrates after scoring one of his two goals in the rout of Australia.

Brazil hit Australia for six in a one-sided international friendly in Brasilia.


The Confederations Cup champions netted three goals in either half as they were rarely tested by a 46th-ranked Australia side who have qualified for next summer's World Cup finals in Brazil.

Striker Jo scored twice while Neymar -- who was influential throughout -- Ramires, Alexandre Pato and Luis Gustavo added their name to a scoreline that did not flatter the hosts.

The only sour note for Brazil was a left hamstring injury to Real Madrid left-back Marcelo, which forced him to miss the second half.

Brazil will be expecting a far tougher test when they travel to Boston for a friendly against Portugal -- who will be without Cristiano Ronaldo -- on Tuesday.

Jo began the rout, on Brazil's Independence day, after eight minutes following clever work by Neymar down the left flank. The Barcelona forward tricked his way into space and while Bernard volleyed his cross against the post the ball rebounded kindly for Jo to tab in from six yards.

Australia briefly threatened with three consecutive corners but their failure to keep hold of the ball for any sustained period was exposed by an incisive Brazil counter-attack.

Brett Holman carelessly played the ball wide to space on halfway and Brazil broke at pace before Bernard's cross was athletically steered in by an unmarked Jo at full speed. It was 3-0 moments later when Neymar's run from deep was not tracked and he latched on to a through-ball before sliding an angled shot across the exposed Mark Schwarzer.

Brazil were now already coasting and Schwarzer did well to deny Neymar as he easily found another way through the Socceroos defence.

Marcelo was forced off with his hamstring injury, to prompt the half-time whistle, and while he did not reappear Brazil's total dominance did.

A Thiago Silva header was ruled out for the merest of contact from a corner before Ramires outjumped Matt McKay at the back post on 58 minutes for a rare header, planting the ball past his Chelsea team-mate Schwarzer. Ramires then saw a 20-yard shot bounce back off the post.

Neymar was involved for Brazil's fifth as Australia again failed to follow his forward burst allowing him to pull the back for substitute Pato to force in at the near post.

Luis Gustavo smashed in the goal of the night seven minutes from the end when he played a one-two with Neymar before unleashing an unstoppable shot into the top corner from 25 yards.