Football: Neymar lights up Club World Cup

TOYOTA: Neymar showed why he is the most coveted player outside Europe as he lit up the Club World Cup with a sumptuous strike to send Santos on their way to a likely final against Barcelona. All the talk before the semi-final clash against the host side Kashiwa Reysol had been about the 19-year-old forward and he did not disappoint, scoring a sensational first goal as the Brazilians ran out 3-1 winners. Meanwhile, Mexican club Monterrey sealed fifth place after seeing off African champions Esperance of Tunisia 3-2. The second semi-final pits European champions Barcelona against Qatar’s Al Sadd today.

Published in The Express Tribune, December 15^th, 2011.