Brazil concluded their preparations for next month’s World Cup qualifiers in perfect fashion with a comfortable 4-1 victory over the USA.
Coach Dunga kept much of the same line up from the 1-0 victory over Costa Rica with Neymar remaining on the substitute’s bench. The decision to retain Hulk instead of the Barcelona striker was controversial but Dunga was vindicated after only eight minutes when the burly striker opened the scoring. A great driving run and cross by Willian resulted in the ball pinging off the upright and Hulk collected the rebound to drill home from 12 yards.
The boys in yellow continued to take the game to their American hosts and pressed quickly all over the pitch. This momentum was temporarily halted though when captain João Miranda had to be replaced by Marquinhos. The 25th minute knee injury to one of Dunga’s key defenders being the only sour note on an otherwise pleasing night for Brazil’s coach.
Willian and Douglas Costa impressed as the half wore on and the attacking intent of Marcelo was causing USA right back Geoff Cameron all sorts of problems. Half time came with no further score but the American’s were to get no respite as Neymar was introduced at the break for goal scorer Hulk. New Liverpool signing Roberto Firmino was also introduced in place of Willian.
It took only five minutes for Neymar to make his mark on the game as he collected a beautiful David Luiz through ball before being tripped inside the area by the recovering Cameron. After picking himself up Neymar dispatched the spot kick low into the bottom left corner to double the advantage. It would be only another 13 minutes for Brazil got their third.
Rafinha had only been on the pitch for a matter of seconds when he picked up the ball in the area after a terrific surging run and pass by Lucas Moura. The youngster kept his composure to deftly switch the ball onto his right foot before flicking a finish under the onrushing Brad Guzan. The goal was Rafinha’s first for his country on only his second cap.
Lucas Moura has had a great start to the season and he grabbed his second assist of the match in the 67th minute. A break from midfield caused the USA defence to back off and Lucas rolled the ball out to the onrushing Neymar. Brazil’s talisman took the ball in his stride and skipped inside two challenges before firing low into the corner.
Following Brazil’s fourth the match slowed considerably but USA grabbed a consolation in the last minute with the best goal of the game. Danny Williams picked up the ball 40 yards out and unleashed a fierce shot that Marcelo Grohe could only get a hand to. American celebrations were muted but Grohe’s frustration was there for all to see as many would have expected him to keep the strike out.
Brazil next travel to Chile on the 9th October as the journey to the 2018 World Cup begins.
Stadium: Gillete Stadium, Foxborough
Date: 8 September 2015
Referee: Joel Aguilar
Yellow Cards: Orozco and Williams (USA)
Goals: UNITED STATES Williams 90 ‘; BRAZIL: Hulk, 8 ‘; Neymar, 50 ‘and 66’ Rafinha 63 ‘.
UNITED STATES: Guzan; Cameron (Spector 73) Alvarado Orozco, Ream; Bedoya (Williams 36), Bradley (Johansson 79), Jones (Diskerud 72) Yedlin, Zardes (Woods 46); Altidore (Morris 57)
Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
BRAZIL: Marcelo Grohe; Fabinho, Miranda (Marquinhos 25), David Luiz, Marcelo; Luiz Gustavo (Fernandinho 65), Elias, Willian (Roberto Firmino 46) Lima Lucas (Lucas Moura 63), Douglas Costa (Rafinha 63); Hulk (Neymar 46)
Coach: Dunga
