He finally got his goal. In the final group match at the Olympic Games, Diego took on a pass from Ronaldinho after 18 minutes, in front of 32,000 spectators at the stadium in Qinghuangdao, and netted to give Brazil the lead against tournament hosts China.
The 23 year old midfielder coolly rounded the Chinese keeper, Liu Zhenli, and slotted home to mark up his first goal of the Olympic football competition. A further brace by Thiago Neves (69’ / 73’) saw the Brazilian selection eventually run out clear 3-0 winners. The impressive South Americans, who had already qualified for the quarter finals after their second game, will face Cameroon in the round of the last eight on Saturday, 16.08.2008.
Serbia, for whom Werder defender Dusko Tosic was in action for the second time during the tournament, failed to make it past the group stage. To add to the full-backs woes, in injury time he saw red for a foul on Angel Di Maria. On the day, Argentina, who had also previously booked their quarter final spot, beat Serbia 2-0 thanks to goals from Ezequiel Lavezzi (13’) and Diego Buonanotte (84’).