Brazil 3-2 Honduras - Damião brace sends Seleção into the semis

Mano Menezes chose to start with Gabriel after the goalkeeper kept a clean sheet against New Zealand, while Rômulo, Hulk and Oscar all returned to the starting line-up.

Damião had a chance to give the Seleção the perfect start when he ran clean through on goal in the opening seconds, but could only sidefoot his effort wide of the post.

Brazil were made to pay after 12 minutes when Honduras took the lead. Roger Espinoza broke well down the left, and his cross eventually found Mario Martinez, who volleyed in past Gabriel.

But Honduras lead came under threat when they were reduced to ten men just after the half hour. Wilmer Crisanto received two yellow cards just seconds apart after fouling Hulk and then Neymar.

The Seleção took full advantage, and when Hulk persevered to pull the ball back past Honduras goalkeeper Jose Mendoza from the byline, Damião slid in on a dithering defence to equalise.

The sides went in level at the break with Brazil now strong favourites to progress, but they were stunned again in the opening moments of the second half.

Espinoza, easily Honduras' most effective player going forward, cut inside from the right flank and curled a low shot past Gabriel from the edge of the box.

Brazil showed their determination to secure a first Olympic gold medal in football by restoring parity less than two minutes later.

Damião nipped in front of Jose Velasquez and was tripped inside the area, and from the resulting spot kick Neymar made it 2-2.

On the hour Brazil finally went in front for the first time. Neymar fed Damião, who spun away from his marker expertly and clipped a cool finish past Mendoza.

Honduras almost levelled when Thiago Silva deflected Espinoza's shot over the bar after Gabriel had fumbled a corner, before substitute Lucas shot over from 20 yards.

Any chance of an equaliser for the underdogs was extinguished when Espinoza's impressive display was blighted by a second yellow card for a foul on Oscar.

Menezes' side saw out the closing minutes and set up a semi-final meeting with either South Korea or hosts Great Britain.

They were ran close by a plucky Honduras side, but in the end their immense attacking talent got them out of jail and they march on to the last four.