Qinhuangdao: Thiago Neves scored two goals and Diego added another as Brazil beat China 3-0 on Wednesday to wrap up group play undefeated at the Beijing Olympics.
Brazil won Group E with nine points from three matches, and will play Cameroon in the quarter-finals in Shenyang on Saturday. Belgium also advanced from the group, and will face Italy in Beijing on Saturday.
The loss eliminated China from the tournament.
Brazil dominated possession against an outgunned China side, as the Chinese pulled 10 players back to try to stymie the Brazilian attack.
It didn't work. Brazil patiently sought an opening, and found it in the 18th when Diego, who plays for Werder Bremen, latched onto a through ball from Ronaldinho, skirted around China keeper Liu Zhenli and slotted into the open net.
Diego almost returned the favour in the 32nd, feeding Ronaldinho a pass into the box. But Liu dashed out and batted the Brazilian's chip shot away with his left hand.
Forward Alexandre Pato almost scored on another through ball minutes later, but Liu rushed out and slid to knock away the ball.
Pato threatened again just before the half, but Liu knocked away his chip attempt with his left hand. Pato then shot the rebound across the mouth of the goal.
Brazil continued to push forward in the second, and Neves finally doubled the margin in the 69th, curling a left-footed free kick over the wall and into the upper left corner as Liu watched helplessly.
Neves netted his second of the night four minutes later with a low left-footed strike from twenty meters (yards).
China, who never seriously threatened Brazil keeper Renan, were missing defender Tan Wangson and midfielder Zheng Zhi, both of whom picked up red cards in their team's 2-0 loss to Belgium.
Brazil coach Dunga sat three normal starters - defender Alex Silva, and midfielders Hernanes and Anderson - who all had yellow cards to prevent them from picking up a second and missing the quarter-finals. Schalke defender Rafinha also sat out the match.
Brazil have never won the Olympic title in men's football. The country won the silver medal twice, at the 1984 Los Angeles Games and the 1988 Seoul Games, and took home the bronze at the 1996 Atlanta Games.
Argentina beat Serbia
Ezequiel Lavezzi and Diego Buonanotte scored a goal each to keep Argentina perfect at the Olympic football tournament with a 2-0 victory over Serbia.
Lavezzi scored from the penalty spot in the 13th minute and Buonanotte curled in a free kick in the 81st as defending champion Argentina, who have already qualified for the quarter-finals, won Group A with nine points.
Argentina will next play Group B runner-up and European under-21 champion the Netherlands at Shanghai Stadium on Saturday.
Serbia finished with one point, the same as Australia. Ivory Coast were second with six points.
Argentina got off to fast start. Marko Jovanovic tripped Angel Di Maria as the Argentina forward dribbled through the area to earn the penalty.
Vladimir Stojkovic guessed correctly but couldn't stop Lavezzi's hard shot as it sailed through the Serbia goalkeeper's hands and into the left side of goal.
Stojkovic did better in the 79th by denying Di Maria twice - on the initial penalty and the retake - after Argentina substitute Lautaro Acosta drew another spot kick with a speedy run.
Two minutes later, the Serbia goalkeeper could only get a finger to Buonanotte's curling free kick as it went over the defensive wall and inside the right post.
Serbia finished the game with 10-men after Dusko Tosic was red-carded in injury time.
Earlier, Argentina goalkeeper Sergio Romero punched away Aleksandr Kolarov's hard shot in the 30th before Miljan Mrdakovic shot over from close range a minute later.
The 53,668 spectators at the Workers' Stadium, which included NBA star Kobe Bryant, chanted Lionel Messi's name throughout despite the FC Barcelona player resting on the bench.
Even Messi smiled in acknowledgment when the stadium screen showed him in the 33rd minute.
The crowd, which rose up in excitement every time Argentina burst into the Serbia area, also acknowledged Serbia's flare, especially Zoran Tosic's run in the 42nd.
Romero tipped Gojko Kacar's swirling volley off the bar in the 55th, while Lavezzi misdirected wide at the near post on a counter attack in the open game.
Romero tipped Mrdakovic's shot over in the 64th as Serbia pressed.
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