Brazil garnered their fourth straight victory on Tuesday as they saw off Zambia 2-0 at the ­National Stadium in Beijing on Tuesday.

At the same venue in 2008, Brazil's arch-rivals Argentina thrashed them 3-0 in the semifinal of the men's soccer event at the 29th Olympic Games.

Christopher Katongo, who plays for Chinese Super League's Henan Jianye, was named ­captain for Zambia's challenge against the 2014 World Cup hosts, while Brazil coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who led Brazil to reach the 2002 FIFA World Cup, named his attacking starting lineup as including Neymar and Alexander Pato partnering with Lucas Moura as the front three.

Brazil predictably dominated the game, ­although they struggled to create many clear openings.

Neymar had a crossbar-hit free kick only three minutes after the match started, and Brazil had several chances as their passes easily threaded Zambia's midfielders, but the Brazilian players' enthusiasm and a splendid performance by Zambia's goalkeeper Kennedy Mweene kept the first half score at 0-0.

Pato and Lucas Moura were replaced by Hulk and Jo after the halftime break.

It was Oscar who scored the first goal with a curling deflection which passed the helpless Mweene when the game reached the hour mark. One minute later, Oscar was close to scoring again as his shot hit the crossbar.

A foul by Jimmy Chisenga gave ­Brazil a free kick at the left side five minutes later, and ­Neymar's free kick pass offered Brazil's ­center Dede to have his first goal with the national team.

Zambia's head coach Patrice Beaumelle said he was happy to have such a rare chance to play against the five-time world cup winners, as he said some of the "Copper Bullets" ­players who had been playing in the African league had reached their "dream" of playing against the world's top players.

"It is a pride for my team, we were the under (side), we were here to learn," he said.

Brazil's attacks on the right flank were questioned, but Scolari said there was no problem, as this was part of the team's balance between ­attacking and defending.

Global Times - Reuters