Ronaldinho scored twice Brazil 5-0 win over New Zealand 2008 Olympics
Ronaldinho scored twice as Brazil strolled to a 5-0 win over New Zealand at the 2008 Olympics on Sunday, while a delightful goal from Ezequiel Lavezzi gave Argentina a late win over stubborn Australia.
The South American pair, who take the tournament more seriously than their European counterparts, have 6 points from two games in their respective groups, enough to guarantee them a quarter-final place with a match to spare.
Italy, breaking free from their traditionally defensive game, joined them after chalking up their second successive 3-0 win, this time over South Korea.
African trio Cameroon, Nigeria and Ivory Coast won for the first time, Cameroon beating Honduras 1-0 with a harmless-looking Stephane Mbia shot misjudged by goalkeeper Kevin Hernandez.
Nigeria overcame Japan 2-1 and Ivory Coast beat Serbia 4-2 with Chelsea's Salomon Kalou among the scorers.
Gerald Sibon scored in the third minute of injury-time to give the Netherlands a 2-2 draw with the United States and Belgium beat nine-man China 2-0 to pick up their first points and leave the winless hosts on the brink of elimination.
China, who have one point, had Tan Wangson sent off for a crude challenge and captain Zheng Zhi dismissed for elbowing in a 12-minute spell in the second half.
New Zealand, facing Brazil with a team mainly made up of university students, were quickly in trouble when they fell behind to an Anderson goal after three minutes before Alexandre Pato headed a second just after the half hour.
Ronaldinho added a third with a free kick which found its way through the entire New Zealand defense in the 55th minute, then won and converted a penalty six minutes later. Rafael Sobis completed the scoring.
Ronaldinho, one of Brazil's three permitted overage players in the under-23 tournament, was overcome with emotion, despite the modest opposition.