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RIO DE JANEIRO -- Fans wearing the familiar gold-and-green-trimmed shirts of Brazils national team were still streaming up the ramp and into the Maracana Stadium when Neymar struck. All of 15 seconds had elapsed since the opening whistle.As it turned out, there was no need to hurry, let alone worry. Whatever terrible toll these Olympics wind up extracting from this cash-strapped, soccer-mad nation, its already clear that wont put a dent in the Selecao.Its 6-0 semifinal win Wednesday over Honduras kept Brazil in pursuit of the Olympic gold medal -- the one important international prize the only five-time World Cup champions have never won.Im happy for the goals but the most important thing is that we made it to the final, said Gabriel Jesus. It was important to win like this, playing well and with a lot of goals.The locals expect them not just to win, but to do it with style, keeping faith with a long line of stars -- beginning with Pele -- who set the bar high with their commitment to play o jogo bonito (the beautiful game). By that standard, Neymars opening tally was a comedy of errors.Honduran defender Johnny Palacios clumsy clearing attempt from the top of his goal box bounced off Neymars shins and the slim forward kept his balance and followed it toward the net. Goalkeeper Luis Lopez rushed out, went to the ground and tried to spread himself, but his clearing attempt, too, bounced off Neymar and rolled slowly forward once more, this time into the net.We can admit now -- we were all nervous when we came. The last game (against Mexico) was too close, said Rio native Marcio Salles.Salles was wearing the jersey of former Brazilian player Hulk and dancing in the concourse afterward alongside his pals as samba music filtered through the stadium.But even when it was still only 1-0, Salles added, they showed confidence and then ... they honored this place and played as they should.At least Brazils other two scores before halftime were artistic successes. Gabriel Jesus beat Lopez with the flick of his right boot after running onto a surgical cross from Luan in the 26th minute to make it 2-0; then he outraced a Honduran defender and scooped up a perfectly weighted pass from Neymar in the 35th , finishing the breakaway with a rocket into the roof of the net.Footballers like Neymar, who draws his hefty paycheck from the Spanish giant Barcelona, are the countrys most famous exports. At last count, there were more than 600 Brazilians employed in the top leagues in Europe, where the money is good and the living is much easier than back home.Neymar left Brazil in 2013 as a 21-year-old and is one of three senior players on Brazils team; Olympic rules require the remaining players to be 23 or younger. So while only four of the players on the roster currently play overseas, 10 more will likely be gone within the next two to three years. Prominent in that group are Garbiel Barbosa, known in these part as Gabigol and Gabriel Jesus, who signed Premier League powerhouse Manchester City.By comparison, all but two of Honduras 18 players ply their trade in the countrys domestic league, and nearly all of them are likely to stay there.Including Neymar wasnt simply about winning Olympic gold, but a way to let him begin forming a partnership with Gabigol and Gabriel Jesus, two youngsters who also figure prominently in Brazils 2018 World Cup plans. The nation is still keening for revenge over the way Germany humiliated them in the last World Cup -- 7-1 en route to the title -- and on their home soil no less.That much was apparent right after Brazils first tally, when fans, clearly pulling for Germany in its semifinal match against Nigeria later in the day, began chanting, Hey Germany, just wait! Your turn is coming up!---Jim Litke is a national sports columnist for The Associated Press. Write to him at jlitke(at)ap.org and Twitter.com/JimLitke. Wholesale Avalanche Jerseys . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Cheap Avalanche Jerseys . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. https://www.cheapavalanche.com/ . Jason Zucker and Matt Cooke also scored for Minnesota, which has won five of six. Kuemper made five saves in the first, nine in the second, and nine in the third. The rookies best save came with 2:17 left in the third period when he denied former Wild forward Matt Cullen from just outside of the crease on the right side. Colorado Avalanche Gear . Dusautoir, the former World Player of the Year, sustained a torn bicep playing for Toulouse in the Heineken Cup on Saturday. The flanker, who has played 65 times for France, is expected to be out for up to four months. Fake Avalanche Jerseys .Y. - Free agent outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, fresh off winning the World Series with Boston, reached agreement with the rival New York Yankees on a seven-year contract worth about $153 million, a person familiar with the negotiations said Tuesday night. TAMPA, Fla. -- Tampa Bay Buccaneers rookie DE Noah Spence revealed to reporters Thursday that he suffered a dislocated shoulder and slight labrum tear against the Denver Broncos?on Sunday.A source close to Spence confirmed the details of the diagnosis. The second-round draft pick left the game at the end of the first half and was seen leaving the locker room with a sling on his arm.The sling has since come off, and he was on the sideline during practice Tuesday and Thursday. He has not been ruled out Monday night against the Carolina Panthers.On a positive note, defensive end Robert Ayyers, who had 9? sacks last season, was back practicing Thursday for the first time since suffering an ankle injury against the Arizona Cardinals, an injury that forced him to miss the past two games.dddddddddddd He wasnt in pads like his teammates, but he did go through some pass rushing drills during the portion of practice that was open to the media.Pro Bowl defensive tackle Gerald McCoy, who suffered a calf injury against the Broncos, was not practicing. ' ' '