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Obrigado Brasil — Tahiti players, after their loss against Uruguay. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

JAPAN 1-2 MEXICO Both sides had nothing but pride to play for as Mexico departed the competition on a winning note. Mexican striker, Javier ‘Chicharito’ Hernandez scored twice and missed an opportunity to take home the match ball when he blazed the rebound of his penalty kick into the stands. Japan got their goal through Shunji Okazaki. The Blue Samurai suffered their third defeat in three games. Japan: 01 Kawashima – 21 Sakai Booked (Uchida – 58′), 15 Konno, 16 Kurihara, 05 Nagatomo (Nakamura – 77′) – 07 Endo, 13 Hosogai, 10 Kagawa – 04 Honda, 09 Okazaki, 18 Maeda (Yoshida – 64′) Subs: 12 Nishikawa, 23 Gonda, 02 Inoha, 03 Sakai, 06 Uchida, 22 Yoshida, 08 Kiyotake, 14 Nakamura, 19 Inui, 20 Takahashi, 11 Havenaar Mexico: 01 Ochoa (Booked) – 21 Mier, 04 Reyes, 15 Moreno, 20 Torres – 06 Torrado, 17 Zavala, 18 Guardado (Salcido – 71′) – 10 Giovani (Barrera – 77′), 14 Hernandez, 19 Jimenez (Aquino – 90′) Subs: 12 Corona, 23 Talavera, 02 Rodriguez, 03 Salcido, 13 Meza, 22 Flores, 05 Molina, 07 Barrera, 08 Reyna, 11 Aquino,16 Herrera, 09 De Nigris Ref: Brych Att: 20,000 ITALY 2-4 BRASIL The Brazilians maintained their 100 percent record as Neymar provided the inspiration once again. The 21-year produced a beautiful freekick in the second half before Fred scored twice to secure the win for the Selecao. Brazilian defender, Dante had scored the opener before Emmanuele Giacherrini latched unto Mario Balotelli’s back heel flick to equalise. Neymar then showed his touch of class with the freekick before Fred looked to have made the game safe. Girogio Chellini scored the second goal for Italy to provide a nervy finish, but it was Fred who came up with another goal to seal a comfortable win for Brasil. Brasil will play Uruguay while Italy faces Spain in the other semi-final fixture. Italy: 01 Buffon – 20 Abate (Maggio – 30′), 19 Bonucci, 03 Chiellini, 05 De Sciglio – 06 Candreva, 07 Aquilani, 18 Montolivo (Giaccherini – 26′) – 08 Marchisio (Booked), 23 Diamanti (El Shaarawy – 71′) – 09 Balotelli Subs: 12 Sirigu, 13 Marchetti, 02 Maggio, 04 Astori, 15 Barzagli, 17 Cerci, 22 Giaccherini, 10 Giovinco, 11 Gilardino, 14 El Shaarawy Brazil: 12 Julio Cesar – 02 Alves, 03 Thiago Silva, 04 David Luiz Booked (Dante – 33′), 06 Marcelo – 08 Hernanes, 17 Dias (Booked), 11 Oscar – 19 Hulk (Fernando – 76′), 09 Fred, 10 Neymar Booked (Bernard – 68′) Subs: 01 Jefferson, 22 Cavalieri, 13 Dante, 14 Filipe, 16 Rever, 05 Fernando, 07 Lucas Moura, 15 Jean, 20 Bernard, 23 Jadson, 21 Jo Ref: R Irmatov Att: 45,000 URUGUAY 8-0 TAHITI Luis Suarez came off the bench to score twice, surpassing Diego Forlan as Uruguay’s all-time leading goal-scorer with 35 goals. Abel Hernandez scored a first half hat-trick before netting another in the second half. Nicolas Lodeiro and Diego Perez also got on the score sheet for the Uruguayans. Both teams had a player sent off; Andrew Scott and Tahiti’s Teheivarii Ludivion were given their marching orders. Uruguay: 23 Silva, 04 Coates, 13 Aguirregaray, 19 Scotti, 06 Pereira – 05 Gargano (Booked), 08 Eguren, 14 Lodeiro, 15 Perez – 18 Ramirez – 11 Hernandez Subs: 01 Muslera, 12 Castillo, 02 Lugano, 03 Godin, 16 Pereira, 22 Caceres, 07 Rodriguez, 17 Arevalo, 20 Gonzalez, 09 Suarez, 10 Forlan, 21 Cavani Tahiti: 22 Meriel – 04 Ludivion, 10 Vallar, 19 Simon, 06 Caroine – 15 L Tehau, 16 Aitamai, 17 J Tehau, 21 Hnanyine (Tohoni – 87′), 03 Vahirua, 13 Chong Hue Subs: 01 Roche, 23 Samin, 05 Wagemann, 08 Faatiarau, 12 Lemaire, 14 Aroita, 20 Vero, 02 A Tehau, 07 Bourebare, 09 T Tehau, 18 Tohoni, 11 Atani Ref: Proenca Att: 22,047

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This article was first published on 24th June 2013

arinzeude

Arinze Ude is a PhD Student at the University of the West of England Bristol, UK, where he's exploring on the mechanisms of donor cell leukaemia. He shares his deep thoughts on his blog and the Naked Convos. He is keen to promote personal development of the Nigerian youth via thought-provoking articles.