It’s Mexico – unexpectedly.
Oribe Peralta scored twice to lead Mexico to its first Olympic gold medal in men’s soccer, stunning favoured Brazil 2-1 on Saturday.
Peralta scored 29 seconds into the game, the fastest goal since FIFA started keeping track of Olympic records in 1976, then headed a free kick from Marco Fabian past Brazilian goalkeeper Gabriel in the 75th minute to put the game away.
It was another devastating defeat for Brazil, which is now 0-3 in Olympic gold medal games.
Brazilian star Neymar sat in the middle of the Wembley Stadium pitch with his hands on his knees and staring in disbelief. The latest in a long line of Brazilian soccer virtuosos looked like he couldn’t believe his heavily favoured team just lost to Mexico in the gold medal men’s soccer game.
Neymar was bottled up for most of the game, unable to use his famously quick feet to get free of Mexico’s determined defence.
He just missed a goal in the 48th minute, firing a rocket from about 30 yards out that just went over the crossbar. He also sailed one high over the goal in the 59th, dropping to his knees after mishitting a perfect crossing pass.
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The Mexicans surrounded him with two defenders for most of the game and even bloodied his nose in the second half when goalkeeper Jose Corona hit Neymar with an elbow while chasing a loose ball.
In the end, Neymar goes home from the Olympics like every Brazilian star before him – without a gold medal.
But in Mexico, jubilant Mexicans are celebrating their 2-1 Olympic gold medal soccer win over Brazil Saturday, waving flags and chanting in plazas and streets across the country.
Crowds began gathering not long after the Mexican team scored its first goal in the first minute of play.
Fans in Mexico City, Guadalajara and other cities exploded in celebration as soon as the game ended, marking Mexico’s first ever Olympic soccer gold medal. Some fans waving the country’s red, white and green flag even took a victory lap around the capital’s landmark Angel of Independence statue.
“Mexico didn’t let up in the match,” said law student Arturo Castellanos, who watched in Mexico City’s chic Condesa neighbourhood. “Even though I was embarrassing myself, I was screaming all kinds of rude things.”
Ignacio Villegas, 18, took the risk of wearing Brazil’s yellow jersey while walking through the neighbourhood. He said he admired Brazil’s style of soccer and his grandfather was Brazilian. But he couldn’t help celebrating his country’s victory.
“Brazil didn’t play as a team although they have nothing but stars,” he said. “And Mexico played excellently.”
The mood was notably more sombre in Brazil, a country known for its elegant form of soccer but still awaiting its first-ever Olympic gold medal in the sport. Brazil has won more World Cup titles than any other country.
Sadness and frustration were clearly etched on the faces of the nearly 100 beer-drinking fans that packed the Prainha Paulista bar in the country’s biggest city, Sao Paulo.
“Brazil played horribly,” chemical engineering student Leoncio Martinez said, turning away from the TV screen. “The team deserved to lose, and the Mexicans more than deserved to win.”
In Rio de Janeiro, fans in surfer shorts and bikinis gathered on the seaside city’s white-sand beaches to watch the game.
People dressed like Brazilian soccer star Neymar posed with other fans to take pictures before the match, while the Beija-Flor samba group’s drummers pounded out heavy Carnival rhythms, stoking the festive atmosphere.
The party didn’t last long.
Mexico’s first goal immediately silenced the crowd and sent the few Mexican fans on the beach into delirium.
Brazilian fan Rosemary de Oliveira put the best face she could on the loss.
“I wanted it to be gold, but it doesn’t matter, the most important is to participate,” she said after the match. “We won the silver! Go Brazil!”
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