BOSTON, Massachusetts: Barcelona star Neymar got on the scoresheet as Brazil came from behind to beat Portugal 3-1 in a friendly at Gillette Stadium here on Tuesday night.
Neymar, Thiago Silva and Atletico Mineiro’s striker Jo all netted as Brazil, fresh from a 6-0 demolition of Australia last weekend, claimed the win at the home of NFL franchise the New England Patriots.
Raul Meireles scored the lone goal for Portugal taking advantage of a defensive error by Brazil in the 17th minute to make it 1-0.
Silva leveled six minutes later by heading home a Neymar corner kick and then Neymar gave Brazil the lead with a goal in the 34th minute. Jo added a third in the 49th minute by converting a cross from Maxwell.
Brazil’s next friendly is against South Korea in Seoul on October 12 and then they face Zambia in Beijing on October 15.
Meanwhile,North Korea said Wednesday that it had barred one of its top domestic football clubs from all competition for six months, in a rare admission of cheating in sports. A report by the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) -- headlined “Strong Disciplinary Action Taken against Sonbong Team” -- said the manner of the club’s victory in the final of the domestic “Torch Cup” tournament two weeks ago had been “contrary to proper sporting spirit and morality”.
The precise offence was unclear, but KCNA said Sonbong had fielded a “wrong player” in the final against the April 25 team -- suggesting it may have been caught bringing in a ringer for the game. Agencies
