South Africa held Men's Olympic Tournament Rio 2016 hosts Brazil to a scoreless draw in their opening match in Group A at the Estadio Nacional in Brasilia.

Brazil needed about half an hour to start piling the pressure on South Africa. Bafana Bafana goalkeeper Itumeleng Khune has his defence organised and he even helped his side in transition with South Africa putting together some counter attacks.

In the second minute, South Africa's Menzi Masuku took advantage of a mistake from Zeka in the midfield but he could not capitalise and Brazil goalkeeper Weverton eventually collected the ball.

Brazil's first significant chance of Rio 2016 came in the 16th minute when Gabriel Gabigol Barbosa found space to drop a ball over the head of the last South Africa defender Mulomowandau Matholo, but Gabriel Jesus couldn't quite convert the opportunity.

A Seleção captain Neymar had his first moment to remember in the 28th minute when he collected the ball on the left, cut inside and unleashed a shot that forced Khune to save to his right.

Six minutes later, South Africa struck back with a chance of their own through captain Keagan Dolly, who shot just wide of the goalkeeper's post. The match really kicked into gear as Brazil then created two chances later in the half, one from Felipe Anderson and another from Neymar, but the sides went back to their dressing rooms goalless.

The whole of the nation thought they had opened their account in the 69th minute when Gabriel Jesus hit the post with his shot after a fine sequence of intricate build-up play from the Brazilians. But the Manchester City-bound forward arrived a second too late to convert the chance.

Brazil continued to knock at the door but were unable to find the edge they needed in front of goal and both teams were made to settle for a point.

Brazil's next match will be against Iraq on Sunday 7 August in Brasilia, while South Africa will face Denmark on the same day and in the same venue.