MANCHESTER, Inglaterra (AP) — Misión casi cumplida. Un triunfo más y Brasil tendrá su ansiado oro olímpico en el fútbol.

Leandro Damiao metió un doblete, Rómulo agregó otro gol y Brasil derrotó el martes 3-0 a Corea del Sur para clasificarse por primera vez en 24 años a la final del fútbol de los Juegos Olímpicos, donde se enfrentará con México en la tercera definición latinoamericana en la historia.

Los mexicanos vencieron 3-1 a Japón y disputarán su primera final.

Brasil ya aseguró al menos la medalla de plata, pero de ese metal ya tiene dos en su colección, al igual que un par de bronce.

Desde el arranque, la consigna en Londres fue oro o nada, el único título que le falta en las vitrinas de los pentacampeones mundiales. Para eso trajo un equipo de lujo con estrellas como Neymar, Damiao, Alexandre Pato, Thiago Silva y Marcelo, y hasta ahora los jóvenes brasileños no han defraudado.

La "Verdeamarela" es el único equipo que ha ganado sus cinco partidos y tiene una abrumadora diferencia de 15 goles a favor y cinco en contra.

Brasil se tuvo que conformar con el bronce en 2008 en Beijing y no alcanzaba la final desde los Juegos de 1988 en Seúl, donde un equipo encabezado por Romario y Bebeto perdió ante la Unión Soviética.

Brasil también se llevó la plata en 1984 en Los Angeles, y el bronce en 1996 en Atlanta.

"Todo el equipo hizo un gran esfuerzo para llegar a la final", comentó Damiao, uno de varios jugadores de esta selección que están en la mira de clubes europeos. "Estamos contentos por haber llegado a la final y vinimos a ganar la medalla de oro. Somos Brasil, y vinimos por el oro".

Los brasileños tuvieron algunos problemas contra Surcorea al comienzo del partido en Old Trafford, hasta que el volante de recuperación Rómulo abrió la cuenta con un remate rasante desde afuera del área a los 38 minutos.

Damiao marcó sus dos goles a los 57 y 64 minutos para sellar la clasificación. El ariete del Internacional de Porto Alegre es el máximo artillero del torneo con seis dianas.

"Tuvimos algunos problemas al principio del partido, pero el gol llegó en el momento adecuado y poco a poco pudimos retomar el control", señaló el timonel de Brasil, Mano Menezes. "Lo más importante es que conseguimos nuestro quinto triunfo al hilo y logramos la meta de llegar a la final".

Corea del Sur jugará contra Japón por la medalla de bronce el viernes en Cardiff, Gales.

___

Tales Azzoni está en Twitter como http://twitter.com/tazzoni

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