Neymar, Brazil come out blazing in Olympic soccer semifinals

RIO DE JANEIRO — Maybe Neymar and his teammates can make the Olympics a success for Brazil after all.

Brazil's celebrated men's soccer team rolled to a 6-0 win over Honduras in the semifinals Wednesday to earn a spot in the gold medal match.

In other action across the Rio Games, the United States men's basketball team beat Argentina 105-78, Americans Kerri Walsh Jennings and April Ross won bronze in beach volleyball and the Jamaicans had a big night at the track with Elaine Thompson winning the women's 200 meters and Usain Bolt cruising to a win in the semifinals of the men's 200.

Brazil started the day 16th in the medal standings, with only three golds in the first 11 days. Two of the country's best chances remaining to reach the top of the podium were competing Wednesday, with the men's soccer team in the afternoon and Agatha and Barbara scheduled to go for gold in beach volleyball just before midnight.

Empty seats have been prevalent across Rio, but not at the Maracana Stadium, where they packed in to watch Neymar and Co. They didn't have to wait long, with Neymar scoring 15 seconds into the game. It was the fastest goal in men's Olympic history, and Brazil led 3-0 going into halftime to cruise into the final.

"We don't want to disappoint the fans," Brazil midfielder Renato Augusto said. "They want us to play well and they want us to win the gold."

Neymar added a goal on a penalty kick in stoppage time, and Gabriel Jesus also scored twice for Brazil, which got off to a slow start in the tournament. But the team picked up the pace and will face Germany, which beat Nigeria 2-0 in the other semifinal match. Germany's senior team trounced Brazil 7-1 in the semifinals of the World Cup in Rio two years ago.

"Hey Germany, just wait, your turn is coming up!" a fired-up fan base chanted.