Brazil cruise to a 4-1 victory over the United States in Washington

Brazil cruised to a 4-1 win over the United States in the first game on their American tour on Wednesday night.

The Seleção immediately went on the attack in Washington and it took them just 12 minutes to take the lead thanks to Neymar converting his penalty kick after Oguchi Onyewu blocked Leandro Damião's shot with his hand.

Following the goal, Brazil controlled proceedings and it wasn't long before they found a second. Neymar whipped in a well-struck corner and managed to pick out Thiago Silva, who lost his marker and then blasted the ball home with his head just inside the six yard box.

The five-time world champions then went on to continue to dominate possession throughout the opening half, but just before the break, they were caught by surprise when Fabian Johnson cut the ball back for Herculez Gomez, who headed in from close range to make it 2-1.

However despite the United States grabbing one back at a crucial stage of the game, Brazil kept their composure and increased their lead just seven minutes after the interval. On the counter-attack, Marcelo surged forward with the ball and after passing to Hulk, the Real Madrid left-back continued his run into the box and then turned in Neymar’s cross.

Despite being 3-1 down, the United States refused to let their heads drop and Gomez, Clint Dempsey and Terrance Boyd all went close with goalkeeper Rafael being forced into a number of spectacular saves.

But three minutes before time, Brazil's win was sealed as substitute Alexandre Pato coolly converted Marcelo's wonderfully floated cross to give the result a more flattering appearance.

U.S.A: Tim Howard; Carlos Bocanegra, Oguchi Onyewu, Cherundolo (Parkhurst), Bradley; Maurice Edu (Castillo), Jones, Jose Torres (Dempsey), Johnson (Boyd); Gomez, Donovan

BRAZIL: Rafael; Danilo, Thiago Silva, Juan, Marcelo; Sandro, Rômulo, Oscar: Neymar (Lucas), Damião (Pato), Hulk (Casemiro)