Neymar nets penalty as Brazil ease to win over Japan in friendly

AP Photo/Michel Spingler

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Neymar scored a penalty and missed another in Brazil's 3-1 friendly win over Japan in France on Friday.

Marcelo and Gabriel Jesus also scored to give Brazil a comfortable lead by half-time, after which Tomoaki Makino responded for Japan, who rarely threatened a comeback at Lille's Stade Pierre Mauroy.

Gabriel and Neymar combined with Willian in Brazil's front three after Philippe Coutinho, who has been struggling with a groin injury, did not even make the substitute's bench.

Gabriel was joined in the starting XI by Manchester City teammates Fernandinho and Danilo, and threatened as early as the sixth minute but saw his shot blocked by Maya Yoshida.

The defender then tangled with Fernandinho in the area and Brazil were awarded a penalty via the video assistant.

After a delay in play and a stuttered run-up, Neymar sent goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima the wrong way and finished into the bottom-right corner.

Hotaru Yamaguchi soon brought down Jesus for another penalty, but after Neymar aimed for the bottom left, Kawashima dived to tip wide.

Regardless, when the resultant 17th-minute corner was cleared, Real Madrid's Marcelo was free to send a powerful right-footed shot into the roof of the net.

Brazil continued to threaten, but without extending their two-goal lead until 36 minutes in. When Neymar led a counter-attack, he sent Danilo free on the overlap, and after a first-time cross to Gabriel, the forward routinely tapped in at the far post.

Brazil were so convincing that at half-time their manager Tite gave goalkeeper Cassio his debut when introducing him for Alisson.

Despite being three goals down, their opponents responded with an improved performance.

Substitute Takuma Asano was influential, providing some much-needed composure in possession and testing Cassio when forcing the goalkeeper into an early save.

Their chance came in the 63rd minute, when from Yosuke Ideguchi's corner, Makino powerfully headed home from close range.

It was to prove little more than a consolation as Brazil made numerous changes, ensuring the match lost any rhythm.

Brazil will play England at Wembley Stadium next week while Japan travel to Belgium.

Information from The Associated Press and Press Association was used in this report.