Neymar scores in 15 seconds and Brazil go 3-0 up in Rio semi

Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Neymar scored the fastest goal in Olympics history and Manchester City’s Gabriel Jesus struck twice as Brazil went 3-0 up against Honduras by half-time in Rio.

The hosts now have the chance to ease some of the pain caused by a 7-1 thrashing at the hands of Germany on home soil at the 2014 World Cup by delivering Brazil’s first football gold medal.

Brazil are in line for a mouth-watering rematch with the Germans should the world champions see off 1996 winners Nigeria in Wednesday’s other semi-final later in Sao Paulo.

Neymar had been much criticised for his lacklustre displays in two 0-0 draws to start the tournament, but his transformation back from the naiton’s whipping boy to golden boy was capped by his determination to open the scoring after just 15 seconds.

The Barcelona star hounded defender Johnny Palacios to rob possession on the edge of the Honduras box and goalkeeper Luis Lopez’s attempt to atone for his teammate’s error only ricocheted the ball off Neymar’s midriff and into an empty goal.

For a moment Neymar’s bravery looked like it may have come at a cost as he had to be stretchered off after being winded in the challenge.

However, there was no repeat of his tears of anguish when carried off with two broken vertebrae in his back that ended his tournament in a brutal quarter-final against Colombia two years ago.

The 24-year-old was soon back terrorising the Honduras defence as he teed up Luan for an effort Lopez managed to repel before Bryan Acosta and Allans Vargas were booked for taking their uncompromising attempts to stop Neymar too far.

However, it was City’s new £27 million ($36 million) wonder kid Jesus who piled on the pain for the Honduras with two more goals before the break.

Luan’s lovely through ball was prodded past the helpless Lopez by Jesus for his second goal of the tournament on 26 minutes.

Nine minutes later Neymar turned provider with a precise pass down the left that Jesus burst onto before crashing the ball into the roof of the net.