USA 0-2 Brazil
Two first half goals were enough to give Brazil a comfortable night at the MetLife Stadium as Tite’s all stars were just too strong for the USA.
Only 32,000 fans made it to the New York ground to see how Dave Sarachan’s side could cope with the World Cup quarter finalists. USA vs Brazil is usually a big draw for soccer fans, but there looked to be as many, if not more, Brazil supporters than Americans. The visiting fans were rewarded as Tite fielded a stellar team including Alisson, Thiago Silva, Philippe Coutinho and the irrepressible Neymar, who has been confirmed as Brazil’s captain. And it was the PSG man who made it two from the penalty spot, just before the break, after Roberto Firminho had given the Samba Boys an early lead.
It was a case of ‘what might have been’ at Russia 2018 for Brazil after a quarter-final defeat to a talented Belgium side. The pre-tournament favourites had looked comfortable up until then, as strong at the back as they were exhilarating up front.
We love the Samba Boys at Sbobet, and we saw glimpses of those qualities again at the MetLife as Brazil put their hosts away in the first 45 minutes.
Highlights of the game
Dave Sarachan is rebuilding the USA with a youthful side and the interim coach will need to be patient, if he gets enough time. The hosts had an average age of 23 and no starter was over 25. And it was one of his youngsters, 21 year old full back Antonee Robinson, who was left standing as Juventus’ Douglas Costa flew down the right wing and crossed for Firminho. The Liverpool striker beat both centre backs to the ball and fired expertly past keeper Zack Steffen.
The hosts tried to get back in the game, and had a flurry of corners around the half hour mark, but were undone again two minutes before the break. Fabinho took a return pass from Firmino, skipped into the box and then fell under the slightest of touches from Wil Trapp, but the referee was impressed enough to point to the spot.
Up stepped Neymar to gently roll home his 58th international goal in 91 games as Steffen dived the other way; and that was two.
Brazil rang the changes in the second half giving a debut to Everton’s new boy Richarlison; and Neymar twice came close to adding to the lead, having a shot from close range blocked and then shooting narrowly wide.
USA threatened mid way through the second half when Kellyn Acosta put Weston Mckennie through but the 20 year old star fired wide. And then substitute Timothy Weah found Trapp in space just outside the box but his shot also flew just wide of the post.
The hosts finally forced Alisson into a save on 75 minutes and it was Acosta again who crossed for the Schalke 04 midfielder but this time his shot was straight at the keeper.
Key statistics
Pre-match USA vs Brazil odds suggested an away win at it was relatively comfortable. Brazil enjoyed 64 per cent possession but the shot count was pretty even at 12 to 11 in favour of the Samba Boys, though they managed four on target while the USA only tested Alisson twice in the 90 minutes.
Tite’s men used the ball well, with a very high 90 per cent passing accuracy, and Sarachan’s boys weren’t too shabby in that department, with 86 per cent accuracy.
But the game was won and lost in the key areas.
The visitors were more lethal in front of goal, the stats show that both sides had two clear cut chances but while Brazil took both theirs, the hosts fluffed their lines.
The trickery of Neymar and Coutinho caused problems all night for the USA defence which only managed to win 57 per cent of defensive tackles compared to Brazil’s 82 per cent when they were under threat.
USA vs Brazil results tell a more one sided story as the Samba Boys have now beaten the USA 11 times in a row. But this young team is making progress with two wins, three draws and two losses under Sarachan.
What’s next?
The interim boss doesn’t know how long he’s got but, while he awaits a decision on his future, he’ll be in charge for a friendly with Mexico next Tuesday, and probably against Colombia in October; before the USA heads to England in November to take on the World Cup semi-finalists.
Tite’s going nowhere, and his team hosts El Salvador next week before taking a trip to Saudi in October.
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