Brazil clinched their first ever gold medal in football at the Olympic Games, when the men's team defeated Germany 5-4 in penalties in the final. The game had ended 1-1 in regulation time. Catch football highlights here.
Barcelona star Neymar scored from a free-kick and also converted the winning penalty during the shootout as Brazil won their first ever Olympic football gold after beating Germany 5-4 in spot kicks. The hosts had taken the lead through Neymar in the first half, but Max Meyer equalised for the reigning world champions in the second half. Catch football highlights here. (
SCHEDULE |
MEDAL TALLY)
Brazil players celebrate after winning the Olympic men's football final vs Germany.
© AFP
04:50 IST: That's it from us for tonight. Do join us for our live coverage from the final day of the Rio Olympics.
04:41 IST: It's all over! Neymar scores from his spot kick, and Brazil are the champions in football at Rio Olympics 2016!
04:39 IST: Nils Petersen misses! Brazil can win it from the next spot kick!
04:38 IST: It's 4-4 now as Luan scores.
04:37 IST: Niklas Suele scores. 4-3 Germany!
04:37 IST: Rafinha scores for Brazil. 3-3!
04:36 IST: Julian Brandt scores. 3-2 Germany!
04:35 IST: Marquinhos converts to level up the scores. 2-2!
04:35 IST: Germany's Serge Gnabry scores his spot-kick. 2-1 now!
04:34 IST: Renato Augusto converts for Brazil. 1-1!
04:32 IST: Matthias Ginter of Germany steps up to take the first spot-kick. He converts! 1-0 Germany!
04:28 IST: It will be a penalties to decide the men's football champion at Rio Olympics 2016. Will hosts Brazil clinch their maiden football gold? Or will the German men emulate their women's team and win the gold?
04:22 IST: Brazil survive a German raid with some very astute defending. Its may take penalties to decide this final.
04:16 IST: The hosts have created quite a few chances, but their finishing has not been up to the mark today. Ten minutes left in this game.
04:09 IST: The first half of extra time ends. It's still 1-1 at the Maracana!
04:02 IST: Brandt brilliantly volleys a long ball from the mid-right. It misses the goal by inches!
03:55 IST: Will Germany cause another Brazilian heartbreak in football tonight?
03:50 IST: The referee blows the full time whistle! Extra time beckons at the Maracana.
03:46 IST: The final moves into three minutes of injury time.
03:40 IST: Less than ten minutes left for the full-time whistle. Can either of the teams find a winner?
03:33 IST: Substitution for Germany: Davie Selke OUT, Nils Petersen IN.
03:31 IST: Brazil have stepped up a gear after conceding that equaliser. It's still 1-1, however.
03:26 IST: Substitution for Brazil: Gabriel Barbosa OUT, Felipe Anderson IN.
03:23 IST: Substitution for Germany: Lars Bender OUT, Grischa Proemel IN.
03:16 IST: Germany are level! Maximilian Meyer coolly slots home a grounded cross from the right flank. It's 1-1 in the second half!
03:10 IST: Brazil are holding on to their lead in the second half, but Germany are controlling possession.
03:04 IST: Germany are already on the attack as the second half kicks off!
02:48 IST: The referee blows the half-time whistle. The hosts head into the break with a 1-0 lead, but Germany are unlucky to not have levelled the scores.
02:43 IST: Germany are keeping more possession, but no sugar so far! Brazil continue to lead 1-0.
02:36 IST: Sven Bender's header hits the crossbar! The Germans will be cursing their luck.
02:35 IST: The Germans sound quite confident. Can they find an equaliser here?
02:33 IST: Germany come close to an equaliser. A free-kick from the left takes a few deflections, evades a few players, and goes away after kissing the frame. From the resulting corner, Brazil goalkeeper Weverton makes a very good close range save.
02:26 IST: Neymar scores! Brazil take the lead after a brilliant free kick by the Barcelona star.
02:26 IST: Neymar is caught late by Ginter. Brazil are awarded a free kick.
02:20 IST: Brazil have managed to make some inroads into the German box in the last few minutes, but the final ball has been disappointing from the Selecao so far.
02:14 IST: Luan meets the end of a cross from the left flank, but his weak shot is easily headed away by a defender.
02:10 IST: Germany come close! Julian Brandt's shot from outside the box curls in, but hits the goal-frame. It's still 0-0 in the final!
02:08 IST: It's been a cagey start to the game at the Maracana. No clear cut chance for either team so far.
02:03 IST: Germany's Matthias Ginter shoots from outside the box. His shot is wayward.
02:00 IST: The game kicks off at the Maracana!
01:55 IST: Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the men's football final at Rio 2016 between Brazil and Germant.
Neymar will hope to lead Brazil to their first ever Olympic football gold.
© AFP
The chance to make history by winning Brazil's long-awaited first football gold medal will override desire for revenge insists Brazil coach Rogerio Micale ahead of Saturday's final.
The expectations of the host nation are placed on star forward Neymar delivering gold having missed that infamous clash in Belo Horizonte through injury.
But with no player who took to the field two years ago set to start on Saturday, Micale insists his group of young stars can only look to the future rather than be burdened by the sins of senior teams gone by.
"That was the World Cup team. This is the Olympic team. Neymar never played that match," said Micale on Thursday.
"The final has nothing to do with that match. It is a different time, different game, different players."
On the other hand, German coach Horst Hrubesch will take charge for the final time at the Maracana after guiding the world champions back to the Games for the first time in 28 years by reaching the semi-finals of last year's under-21 European championships.
