Luis Suarez scored his first Uruguay goals since the World Cup finals and his biting ban in a 3-0 friendly win over Oman on Monday.
Suarez took his international tally to 43 with strikes in the 57th and 66th minutes and substitute Jonathan Rodriguez added the third in the dying minutes of the game at the Al Buraimi stadium.
It was the Barcelona striker’s second appearance for Uruguay on tour in the Middle East after Friday’s 1-1 draw with Saudi Arabia.
Former Liverpool striker Suarez had last scored for his country when he netted both goals in their 2-1 win over England in the second group match at the World Cup finals on June 19. Suarez has been allowed to play friendlies after an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in August revised the terms of his ban, due to end when he makes his Barcelona debut in the ‘clasico’ against Real Madrid in La Liga on October 26.
Awesome Neymar Meanwhile, Barcelona superstar Neymar thumped four goals past Japan in a spectacular solo performance as Brazil hammered the Asian champion 4-0 in Singapore on Tuesday.
The 22-year-old Barcelona forward was a class apart at Singapore’s national stadium as he scored all of Brazil’s goals and nearly provided more in front of a sell-out crowd.
Neymar underlined his star billing as he moved to 40 goals in just 58 games for Brazil and gave new coach Dunga a fourth straight win with no goals conceded. The victory also rounded off a successful Asian mini-tour for this year’s World Cup host after Saturday’s convincing 2-0 win over Argentina in Beijing.
Neymar looked dangerous from the start. In an ominous start, he had a penalty shout waved away and grazed the side-netting with a free-kick.
He duly put Brazil ahead on 18 minutes when he ran on to Diego Tardelli’s penetrating through-ball, scampered around goalkeeper Eiji Kawashima and finished with aplomb. But Japan was not prepared to roll over and Yu Kobayashi flashed a volley over the crossbar as the Blue Samurai nearly found a quick reply.
Bundesliga’s Shinji Okazaki almost found the target with a glancing header and Brazil dealt poorly with a corner on the stroke of half-time in signs of hope for Japan.
But Japanese optimism receded three minutes after the break when half-time substitute Philippe Coutinho won possession in midfield and prodded the ball forward for Neymar.
With Japan’s offside trap sprung, Neymar had plenty of time to pick his spot and put his second goal of the night past Kawashima.
Kaka arrived to huge applause in the 72nd minute and he quickly drew the best from Kawashima as his firm header, from a Neymar cross, was palmed onto the bar.
But the ball was not cleared and although Kawashima kept out Coutinho’s fierce drive, Neymar pounced on the rebound for his third on 77 minutes.
Four minutes later and Neymar got his fourth of the night, and 40th in a Brazil shirt, when he met Kaka’s hanging cross from the left at the far post.
The results: Oman 0 lost to Uruguay 3 (Luis Suarez 57, 66, Jonathan Rodriguez 90).
Brazil 4 (Neymar 18, 48, 77, 81) bt Japan 0.
Hong Kong 0 lost to Argentina 7 (Banega 19, Higuain 42, 54, Gaitan 43, 72 Messi 67, 85).
