Brazil 4-0 Panama ; World Cup hosts crush Panama with commanding display

World Cup hosts Brazil have continued their preparations for the tournament with a comfortable 4-0 victory over Panama this evening.

Luis Felipe Scolari's side, who will begin the World Cup as favourites on June 12, struggled to create chances in the early stages of the match before Neymar produced a moment of magic to open the scoring just before the half-hour mark.

The hosts were awarded a free kick some 25 yards from goal, and the Barcelona winger stepped up to curl it perfectly into the top corner.

Neymar almost turned provider moments later as he danced his way into the box before picking out Fred, who put his header narrowly wide.

The second goal came five minutes before the interval as Dani Alves joined his club teammate on the scoresheet with a good finish into the bottom corner from outside the area.

It was 3-0 right at the start of the second half as Neymar's flick set up Hulk. who put his side in complete control by finding the bottom corner with the outside of his boot.

Brazil should have extended their lead even further in the 50th minute as once again Neymar carved out a chance for Fred, but the striker put his header high and wide.

Neymar came close to doubling his personal tally for the night when he latched on to a through-ball from David Luiz, but his shot was well saved by Oscar McFarlane.

Panama conjured up a rare chance shortly before the hour mark when Roberto Nurse almost caught Julio Cesar out, but the keeper managed to recover from a slip in time to push the header over the top.

The flurry of substitutes entered the fray for both sides during the second half, and two combined for Brazil's fourth of the night as Maxwell found Willian for a simple finish.

Maicon almost joined his rival right-back Alves on the scoresheet with just eight minutes of the match remaining, but his header thumped off the crossbar.

Controversy ensued moments later as Gabriel Gomez appeared to have been sent off for handling the ball in the box, only for the referee to seemingly retract his decision and award the visitors a free kick instead.

Brazil continued to push for a fifth goal in the closing stages as first Neymar and then Jo went close, but they were forced to settle for just the four as they eased to a resounding victory.