Brazil qualify to play Mexico in football final

Dinesh Weerawansa - Reporting From england

Brazil and Mexico won their respective semi final matches of the Olympic Games 2012 men's football tournament and qualified to play in final to be played at the Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

Last night's semi finals saw the two Asian teams in the last four - Japan and South Korea losing in almost similar fashion. The two Asian teams which ended up in the losing camps will meet each other in the third-place play off for the bronze medal to be played at Millennium Stadium on Friday night.

Brazil had a runaway three goals to nil win over South Korea in the first semi final played at Old Trafford after leading one-nil at half time. The second semi final played at the Wembley Stadium saw Mexico surviving an exciting first half to beat Japan by three goals to one.

Hosts of the next Olympic Games in 2016, Brazil maintained their football supremacy and march towards their first Olympic Games men's football title in style. A spectacular goal in the first half by Romulo and back to back goals by Leandro Damiao led Brazil to an easy win against South Korea.

Nevertheless, South Korea battled it out till the end to produce a hard-working performance and were unlucky not to be given at least one penalty. But they lacked the creativity Brazil are capable of around the penalty area and once the South Americans got into their stride, there was no holding them back. The result keeps the favourites on track for another major international honour with a squad it is envisaged will become the backbone of their 2014 World Cup campaign on home soil. Brazil has extended a remarkable record of scoring three times in all five matches so far, with Damiao top of the table with six goals.

Among the keen spectators following Brazil's success were FIFA president Sepp Blatter and Manchester City chief Roberto Mancini. Brazil took time to settle down by which time they could easily have been a goal, and a man down. Alex Sandro turned away Kim Hyunsung's far-post header, Thiago Silva struck Ji Dongwon's effort to safety and the Korean striker also hit a long-range shot narrowly over.

It was the middle of those three chances that might have seen a red card in addition to a penalty as Juan Jesus appeared to kick Ji in the head with a high tackle.But Brazil made the most of their reprieve, and Korea goalkeeper Lee Bumyoung twice failed to hold fierce strikes from Leandro Damiao before star duo Neymar and Oscar combined to set up Romulo, who struck a low shot through a weak attempt to save. In the second half, Damiao turned an instant hero for Brazil with successive goals in 57th and 64th minutes, taking his opportunity after Marcelo had failed to turn home Neymar's pass. Damiao's second success, his fourth in two games, came seven minutes later with Neymar again the architect, the ball breaking to the striker after Oscar's initial effort had been deflected.

The second semi final saw Mexico undergoing several anxious moments in the first half to taste victory with a productive second half. Mexico came storming back for a 3-1 win to reach their first Olympic men's football final as Japan's dreams of double gold were crushed.

The Japanese men looked set to join their women's team in setting up a gold medal match when a superb third goal of the tournament from Yuki Otsu gave them an early lead.

Though the Mexico found the equalizer to make it one-all at the breather, Marco Fabian, Oribe Peralta and substitute Javier Cortes turned the game around as their favour to set up a final on Saturday against Brazil and left their opponents playing for bronze. Neither side had previously competed for gold and each had made the Olympic semis for only the second time, having last done so in 1968 when Japan went on to beat host nation Mexico in the bronze-medal match. Despite some nervy defending early on, the Japanese were on course to emulate that result after 12 minutes today thanks to a stunning strike from Otsu.

Mexican goalkeeper Jose Corona, who had already tipped a Hiroshi Kiyotake shot wide, was helpless as Otsu's instant control from Keigo Higashi's pass set up a half-volley that the forward crashed into the top corner. It was the first time Mexico had trailed at the Olympics and they needed to become the first side to score against Japan.

The pressure told in the 31st minute when Giovani dos Santos’ corner was flicked on by Jorge Enriquez and Fabian nodded home from close range. Neither side could force a second before half-time. But Mexico continued to press and completed their comeback in the 65th minute with a goal that was both sublime and ridiculous.

Peralta had just drilled too close to Shuichi Gonda, who rolled the ball out to Takahiro Ohgihara. But the midfielder took too long and was robbed of possession by Peralta, the striker still having plenty to do as he drove an unstoppable strike right into the top corner.

Japan threw on three substitutes but they were unable to find a way through and were overcommitted in the final minute of stoppage-time as Cortes held off several weak challenges before firing the ball under Gonda.

Meanwhile, USA will take on Japan in the women's football final of the 2012 London Olympic Games. USA beat Canada 4-3 in extra time while Japan edged out France by two goals to one. City of Coventry Stadium will be the venue for women's bronze medal play-off game between Canada and France on Thursday.

LONDON, Wednesday