Email
Print
Digg This
SHANGHAI, Aug 22 (Reuters) - Brazil won the bronze medal in Olympic soccer by beating Belgium 3-0 on Friday though it was scant consolation for a team who had set their hearts on winning gold for the first time.
Diego and Jo scored first-half goals in Shanghai as Brazil shrugged off the bitter disappointment of their crushing 3-0 semi-final defeat to arch-rivals Argentina.
Jo added the third with a breakaway goal in injury-time as Brazil beat the Belgians for the second time in the tournament.
However, the win is unlikely to ease the pressure on coach Dunga who chose to lead the Olympic team in addition to his normal duties as coach of the senior national side.The Olympic soccer tournament is restricted to under-23 teams with three over-age players allowed per side.Midfielder Diego put Brazil ahead in the 26th minute when he beat two defenders to the ball and turned in a low cross from Rafinha.
Maarten Martens had a shot blocked by Breno and Thomas Vermaelen was close with a header following a corner as Belgium pushed for an equaliser.But the South Americans doubled their lead in the 45th minute when Jo headed in from close range after Logan Bailly only partially saved Ramires's shot.
