Despite a very promising attacking performance and a flurry of chances in the second half, the United States Men's National Team lost 4-1 in Wednesday night's friendly against Brazil at FedEx Field. The U.S. fell behind early after Neymar, Brazil's 20-year-old star forward who was a general nuisance all game long, converted an 11th-minute penalty. Thiago Silva then headed in a corner kick in the 26th minute. Herculez Gomez pulled one back for the U.S. in the 44th minute off a cross from Fabian Johnson.
The U.S. attack started to click in the second half, especially after Clint Dempsey came on in the 55th minute, but some great goalkeeping from Rafael and a little help from the crossbar kept the Americans from closing the deficit. Marcelo ('52) and Alexandre Pato ('87) sealed the game for Brazil with their second-half goals.
Losing to Brazil, though, is something that happens to pretty much everyone in international soccer. As Ryan Rosenblatt wrote at SB Nation Soccer:
The scoreboard didn't accurately reflect the match because the U.S. should have had two or three goals, but then again, Brazil should have had six or seven. Whatever the scoreboard said, one thing was clear -- Brazil was just simply better than the U.S., and if you're the U.S., that's hardly something to be ashamed of. After all, they're Brazil.
The U.S. now heads to Toronto to take on Canada in a friendly on Sunday before starting World Cup Qualifying in Tampa, Florida against Antigua and Barbuda at Raymond James Stadium on June 8. Brazil next plays Mexico in a friendly in Dallas at Cowboys Stadium on June 3, followed by another friendly against Argentina at MetLife Stadium on June 9.
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