Neymar on song as Brazil crush poor Australia

Barcelona playmaker Neymar was on target as World Cup hosts Brazil completed a crushing 6-0 friendly win over a poor Australia side in Brasilia.

Jo grabbed the first of his two goals on eight minutes for Luiz Felipe Scolari's side when he despatched a volley after Bernard had hit the post from a Neymar cross.

Brazil were utterly dominant in possession and Jo added the second on 33 minutes when Maicon played in Bernard, who swept the ball across goal for his team-mate to net with the visiting side marking fresh air.

It was all too easy when Chelsea midfielder Ramires played in Neymar to thump the ball beyond Mark Schwarzer two minutes later for the third goal of the night as Australia continued to toil to keep possession for any notable length of time.

Ramires helped himself to a fourth goal on 57 minutes with a header from a cross by substitute Maxwell, who had replaced the hamstrung Real Madrid full-back Marcelo before half-time.

Pato replaced goalscorer Jo and was only on the park a few minutes when he made it five on 72 minutes from a Neymar cross after a lovely chip over the top by Hernanes.

Luiz Gustavo then accepted a Neymar pass to send a stunning drive crashing high into the net from 25 yards out with the visiting side looking happier to see the final whistle.

In the end, Brazil came up one goal short of their record win over Australia back in 1997 when they completed a 7-0 win.

The gulf in class between the sides suggest Australia have plenty of work to do before they touch down in Brazil to participate in their third successive World Cup finals next summer.

Brazil continue their preparations for next summer's finals with matches against Portugal and Argentina later this month.

BRAZIL - Júlio César; Maicon, Thiago Silva, David Luiz, Marcelo; Ramires, Luiz Gustavo, Paulinho; Bernard, Jô, Neymar..subs: Alexandre Pato, Dante, Fernando, Henrique, Hernanes, Jefferson (GK), Lucas Moura, Marcos Rocha, Maxwell.

AUSTRALIA - Schwarzer, Neill, R. McGowan, Ognenovski, Bresciano, Holman, Jedinak, McKay, Kruse, Kennedy, Oar: subs: Good, Gligor, Pain, Duncan (GK), Reece Caira, Vrankovic, Hoole, Edwards, De Silva, Bouzanis (gk)