Neymar seizes Brazil's 1st soccer gold in shootout defeat of Germany

Brazil captured the only major honor that has eluded it in the international game by beating Germany 5-4 on a penalty shootout in Saturday's gold-medal match.

It was the first time in 16 years the Olympic men's showpiece was decided in this cruel fashion, and it was Brazil's favorite son, Neymar, who struck the winning spot kick in front of nearly 100,000 at the Maracana.

One take earlier, the Selecao shot-stopper Weverton, who has gained a reputation as a penalty-saving specialist at Atletico PR, thwarted Nils Petersen to edge towards victory at Rio 2016.

Neymar opened the scoring for the host in the opening stanza with a sensational free-kick that pinged in off the crossbar, but Max Meyer's finely taken equalizer on 59 minutes was the last time the sides could breach either goalkeeper until the shootout.

In losing on penalties, Germany was refused its first soccer gold in the Olympics.

The first-half was closely fought with the best early chance coming from Julian Brandt, who cannoned a right-footed effort off the Brazilian bar from over 20 yards. He appeared to possess the German's greatest attacking menace until Neymar, a scapegoat during the beginning of the tournament as Brazil was held to goalless draws by South Africa and Iraq, struck his sublime set piece.

While Brazil prospered through its individual talent, Germany threatened through concerted swarms. The woodwork was clipped on two further occasions before the break, as Horst Hrubesch's side appeared fixated on matching the German women's nabbing of the gold a day earlier.

The industrious Meyer's deserved equalizer came 14 minutes after the restart, latching neatly onto Jeremy Toljan's cut-back to dispatch an unstoppable first-time finish.

Brazil turned up the pressure as normal time wound down, with Renato Augusto exerting his influence in the middle of the park, but an organized German side ensured the tie went into extra time.

The host continued to have the better of the exchanges as Felipe Anderson - a 70th-minute replacement for Gabriel Jesus - made several dangerous forays into the final third, but the teams could only be separated from 12 yards.

The execution of the penalties was superb, each attempt seeming to find the furthest pockets from the outstretched net-minders. It was the fifth take from Germany's Petersen, however, that Weverton was able to deny by reaching down to his left.

The scene was set for Neymar to gift his country gold on the penultimate day of Rio 2016, and as the soccer world has become accustomed to over his trophy-laden career thus far, he delivered.

It was an emphatic blast into the top corner, and marked the most frenzied response to a medal win this summer for Rio 2016's party giver.

Photos courtesy Action Images