Brazil Friendly Recap

Before the match coach Jurgen Klinsmann told ESPN that a lot of questions would be answered during the match against Brazil.  It was probably the most eagerly anticipated friendly match in the coach’s era and close to 70,000 fans filled RFK Stadium.  There had been only one win by the USA against Brazil in the previous 16 matches.  The starters for the United States were:

Howard; Cherundolo, Onyewu, Bocanegra (c), Johnson; Bradley, Jones, Edu; Donovan, Gomez, Torres

It would be similar to the lineup against Scotland with Herculez Gomez getting a chance at the striker position.  Brazil would put out a lineup full of speed and talent. These are names that could be stars in the world for years to come.  As portrayed in the pregame, this is a country that truly embraces the idea of “the beautiful game” and plays a certain artistic style at all times.

Rafael Cabral; Danilo, Thiago Silva (c), Juan, Marcelo; Sandro, Rômulo, Oscar; Neymar, Hulk, Leandro Damião

Bocanegra and Onyewu would have the focus on them early needing to play together and not wander.  Marcelo and Danilo, the wide backs for Brazil, were sure to charge forward to aid in the attack.  The United States had confidence on its side as they took the opening kick.  The new kit with the red and white stripes would be worn for the second time, but with navy numbers much easier to see this time.  Still the stripes take over on the broadcast.

Brazil had possession early as it looked like Edu and Bradley had switched spots from the previous spot.  Bradley was pressing as a true defending midfield in what appeared as a 4-1-4-1 formation.  Gomez was active early and his pace was evident providing some challenge to the Brazilian defense.

The referee would create drama early as in the 10th minute a penalty would be awarded against Onyewu as a ball was drilled into his arm just above his elbow.  It was fired at him more than an attempt at a hand ball.  Neymar would step up with Howard going the wrong way and put Brazil ahead.  The beauty of soccer to some is that gray area that is seen many times in a game.  Some U.S. players were not pleased with the call and Torres would get a yellow.  A team never knows how the calls will go and the U.S. has gotten their fair share, so the test would be to rebound.

Brazil continues to press as in the 18th minute as Damião would beat Cherundolo inside only to be stopped by a remarkable leg save from Howard.  The U.S. was continuously pinned in their own half.  Even with a yellow to Oscar, the Brazilians would keep possession.  Brazil was pressuring Bradley feverishly showing they recognize the growth in his game.

The best chance in the first quarter of the match came off a free kick from Landon Donovan as Carlos Bocanegra would head it high.  Thiago Silva would score off a header from a corner just two minutes later as Jermaine Jones would lose his mark.  Onyewu and Jones seemed to be on completely different pages.  Tim Howard has no chance.  It was a great corner, but the U.S. just didn’t do enough defensively.  At the 28th minute, it was 2-0 Brazil.

Brazil would back off allowing some more possession by the United States.  It may have been good for the psyche of Oguchi Onyewu as his first start in eight months was not going well.  As El Jimador Tequila ads scrolled across the boards at RFK, Brazil would get back to the attack after taking a break.  Bocanegra would be stripped by Damião, another showing of his bright future, and he would start an attack that would eventually result in more possession and in the fourth corner of the match.

In a surprising end to the half, Gomez would pull the USMNT to within one deflecting in a ball that would bounce to him off a sliding defender.  In the best display of passing thus far, Bradley slipped a ball through to Fabian Johnson who directed it toward the center of the pitch.  Although the ball to Bradley was a poor touch by Edu, the goal was just what the team needed.

The center backs were again the question in the first half.  It seemed clear that a changing of the guard there may be better than simply a change in system.  Can Geoff Cameron, George John, and Tim Ream develop into solid options on the back line?  It is unfortunate, but that is where the thought was prior to the second half.  There will be a more in depth post on this topic in the coming days.

Also, Edu further up the pitch was not working.  However, Bradley and Johnson in their respective spots were working.  Gomez was showing creativity.  No substitutions were made coming out in the second half.

After Marcelo took a foul with some drama he would score with another uncontested finish in the box as all four defenders fell off to only a few feet from Howard.  Neymar would find Marcelo after Marcelo started the rush when Jones was dispossessed.  It was poor defending.

Finally in the 56th minute Clint Dempsey would join Donovan on the pitch for the first time under Klinsmann as Deuce would come on for Torres.  The match would pick up a frenetic pace as Dempsey would go down in the box and then Donovan would take a wild swing toward goal.  Jones would then be booked with a late tackle on Neymar.  Marcelo would then kick a ball straight at a sprawling Cherundolo and be booked as well.  The intensity was picking up but the USMNT was still down with 30 minutes to play.

Rômulo would make the defensive play of the game clearing a ball off the line before Dempsey could get his off foot on the ball.  Brazil would make its first substitution bringing on Alexandre Pato who would hit one off the post after being set up by more Neymar mastery.

Michael Parkhurst would come on for Cherundolo and Terrence Boyd for Edu.  This prompted a switch to a 4-4-2 with Boyd and Gomez looking to link up.  It would almost work as Boyd would get a rebound he would try to slam home off a Gomez run.  Rafael made a superb save.  It could be described as amazing luck or wonderful reaction.

Edgar Castillo and Kyle Beckerman would come on in the 80th minute prior to another United States corner.  Rafael would come up huge again with the best save of the night in The American Pitch viewpoint off a free kick from a Bradley header.  Onyewu would then hit the bar off the ensuing corner.  Dempsey would head one into the ground.  The game would be iced by a clinical finish by Pato off a nice chip pass by Marcelo.  Again, Onyewu would be late coming out.

It was the mental mistakes that killed the United States.  They were much better in the second half, but could not beat a keeper with quick reaction.  The central midfielders raised all the wrong questions once again.  Some will say the ending was harsh on the performance, but it is what the USMNT earned.  The team pressed, but when Brazil would finally get an attack there was simply not enough resistance.  Chances can only take a team so far.

Lost in the game is the journey of Gomez.  He was basically banished from the national team and the MLS.  He had to redefine himself in Mexico after playing his last national team match in 2010.  Gomez, along with Johnson, was the undaunted by the yellow jerseys.

The USMNT will play its last friendly before World Cup qualifying on Sunday against Canada.