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Brazil beat Cameroon 4-1 to face Chile in last 16
Neymar scores brace as Brazil win against poor Cameroon, hosts now face South American rivals Chile in second round
Neymar of Brazil celebrates after scoring a goal during the FIFA World Cup 2014 group A preliminary round match between Cameroon and Brazil at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia EPA/MARCELO SAYAO
Ulrike John, dpa
Brazil beat Cameroon 4-1 on Monday to qualify for the knock-out stages of the World Cup and set up a clash with Chile.
Neymar opened the scoring in the 17th minute, netting in his third goal of the tournament and taking the total number of goals at Brazil 2014 to 100 during the hosts' 100th World Cup game.
An unmarked Joel Matip grabbed an equalizer and first goal of the tournament for Cameroon less than 10 minutes later, slotting in a ball from Allan Nyom, who made the most of bad defending from Dani Alves left of the Brazilian box.
Neymar fired in his second of the match and his fourth in three games, making it 2-1 ten minutes before half-time.
Fred headed in Brazil's third at the start of the second half, running for a cross from David Luiz, and substitute Fernandinho made it 4-1 five minutes before the whistle.
The victory was a relief for the hosts after an unimpressive start to the tournament cast doubt about their status as favourites. It leaves them top of Group A ahead of Mexico, which had held them to a 0-0 draw.
With the game secured and his eyes on the last-16 game against Chile on Saturday, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari substituted both Neymar and Hulk, who was back after a left leg muscle injury kept him on the bench against Mexico.
Neymar has a yellow card and a second would have forced him to miss the Chile match.
Brazil started with the same line-up that defeated Croatia 3-1 in World Cup opening game.
Neymar was on brilliant form. The Barcelona striker had two shots on goal saved by Cameroon goalkeeper Charles Itandje, including a set piece, forcing saves by Cameroon goalkeeper Charles Itandje.
"We played very well. This was the best performance so far," Neymar said after the game. "We earned it."
In first-half extra time, he acrobatically chipped the ball over a Cameroon player and combined with Oscar and Paulinho to set up Hulk, who missed.
Cameroon were playing without striker Samuel Eto'o, arguably their most experience player who was on the bench with a right knee injury.
Midfielder Alex Song, who was red-carded against Croatia, was also missing through suspension for German coach Volker Finke.
Mexico will play the Netherlands, who finished top of Group B after beating Chile 2-0 a few hours earlier.
