Olympics: Brazil 3-2 Egypt - Seleção survive late scare

Goals from Rafael da Silva, Leandro Damião and Neymar saw Brazil rocket into a 3-0 half-time lead, before Mohammed Abou-Trika and Mohamed Salah worried the South Americans with the threat of a second-half comeback.

For the duration of the first-half, Brazil were mesmeric, seeing off initial Egyptian energy to take control of the game as Oscar dictated play. 

The Chelsea new-boy was outstanding, floating around the midfield to devastating effect as the Egyptian side failed to deal with his incessant movement.

The Seleção soon picked up their due rewards, with the opening goal coming from the unlikely source of Rafael da Silva. Bursting into the area from the right, the Manchester United youngster picked up Oscar's through ball with his right-foot before firing home with his left. 

Ten minutes later and the lead was doubled and Oscar had his second assist of the night. It was a goal made at Internacional, with former Colorado defender Juan's long-ball flicked-on by Leandro Damião to Oscar.

The Chelsea midfielder  was onto the flick-on in a flash, rounding the helpless El Shennawy before firing back across the face of goal for the waiting Damião to smash home.

Brazil were rampant and shortly after added a third goal to take them into half-time. Hulk this time turned creator, linking with Neymar to find space on the left before producing a fine chipped cross for his much vaunted Santos colleague to smash home. 

After the break, Brazil were sluggish and Egypt looked to take advantage. With Oscar drifting out the game, the Pharaohs took the fight to Brazil and pulled back an early second-half goal through Abou-Trika, turning the ball home after Motaeb struck the post. 

Egypt were almost granted a quick-fire second as Marcelo miss-kicked a back-pass that allowed Salah to break. The Real Madrid full-back managed to atone for his error with a last-gasp lunge to block the new Basel man's shot.

Despite moments of quality in attack, Brazil were shaken and Egypt were enjoying great freedom on the right-flank. With just under 20 minutes remaining, Salah sent Brazilian hearts racing. 

Having taken advantage of ball-watching from Juan and Marcelo, Salah lined-up a shot from the edge of the area and fired past a helpless Neto. Brazil were on the ropes and only some fine defending from Rafael stopped another chance from a corner.

Brazil saw out the game, following a flurry of panicked changes from Mano Menezes, but it was far from pretty for the gold medal hopefuls. If Brazil are to achieve their aims, they will need far better levels of concentration in defence.

There are as many questions as answers for Mano Menezes ahead of Sunday's fixture with Belarus, but Brazil have been warned about allowing their performance to tail-off in the second-half. They will be punished.

Man of the Match: Rafael da Silva (Brazil)

BRAZIL: Neto; Rafael da Silva, Thiago Silva (c), Juan, Marcelo; Sandro, Romulo, Oscar, Neymar, Hulk; Leandro Damiao.

EGYPT: El Shennawy; Ramadan, Hegazy, Alaa, Fathi; H. Hassan, El Nenny, Gomaa, Abou Trika; Mohsen, Moteab