U.S. Suffers Brazilian Beatdown
- Updated: September 8, 2015
Photo credit: Kari Heistad/capturedimages.biz
FOXBOROUGH, Mass. – The United States suffered an embarrassing loss in a 4-1 defeat against Brazil on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium.
Although the game was just a friendly, the match did serve as the final tune-up for next month’s Confederations Cup playoff with Mexico, and the final score left many questions for Jurgen Klinsmann and the United States to answer. The Americans held Brazil to just one goal through the first 45 minutes, but Neymar proved to be a key difference maker, as Brazil opened up the scoring with three goals in the first 22 minutes of the second half.
Hulk scored for the visitors in the ninth minute, which established the tone of the game quickly. Willian carried the ball into the attacking box to US goalkeeper Brad Guzan’s left before chipping a shot over Guzan’s head. The ball kicked off the post and back into the box where Hulk collected the rebound, moved around a defender, and fired the shot home to open the scoring.
The 1-0 score would hold throughout the remainder of the first half, which saw limited offensive opportunities for the U.S. and an early substitution of Boston College alum Alejandro Bedoya, who played out of position at defensive midfielder to start the game and was taken off in the 36th minute to bad reviews.
The second half did not play out any better for the Americans as Brazil substituted Neymar on at halftime and his presence was immediately felt, as he drew a penalty in the 49th minute. After a perfect ball forward from David Luiz, Neymar carried the ball down the left flank with time and space, but allowed US defender Geoff Cameron to catch up. Neymar cut back and Cameron’s leg caught him, setting up Neymar to increase the lead to 2-0 from the penalty spot.
Brazil struck next in the 64th minute when Rafinha, who had just entered the game, ended a counter attack by carrying the ball into the box, dancing around defender Tim Ream, and poking the ball past Brad Guzan, making the score 3-0. Minutes later in the 67th minute, Neymar added his second goal of the game as he cut around multiple defenders in the six-yard box and slotted the ball past Guzan.
The scoring for Brazil mercifully ended at four goals, but Brazil had a number of chances after the final goal, including a ball just wide of the post by Rafinha, who stood alone at the top of the box and a free kick from Neyar that hit side netting.
The USA did ruin the clean sheet on a 90th minute goal thanks to a long range shot by Danny Williams, but the game had already been decided and the majority of Gillette Stadium had filed out.
The game was a disappointing tune-up for the much anticipated tune-up against Mexico for a spot in the Confederations Cup. Despite recent victories against the Netherlands and Germany, this result piles onto a disappointing Gold Cup to add concern to American soccer supporters.
The U.S. Men’s National Team will square off with Mexico in the Confederations Cup on October 10th at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California.
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