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U.S. women blank Brazil in Kirin Cup

USWNTLloyd (Getty Images)

The U.S. women's national team did not need the late heroics to get by Brazil this time. 

Carli Lloyd, Shannon Boxx and Amy Rodriguez all scored off set pieces as the U.S. women blanked Brazil 3-0 in their final game of the Kirin Challenge Cup and a rematch of their riveting World Cup quarterfinal bout that the Americans won in penalty kicks. The game's starting time was pushed back four hours because of anticipated high winds and heavy rain in Chiba, Japan, but the change had no negative impact on the U.S. women, who took control from the start.

The United States jumped out to an early lead on Brazil, which was without Marta, with Lloyd cleaning up a loose ball off a Christie Rampone free kick in the 18th minute. Boxx doubled the lead five minutes later with a header, scoring her first goal in more than a year off a free kick from Lauren Cheney. Rodriguez capped the shutout with a deflected shot following another Cheney free kick in the 83rd minute.

The U.S. women concluded the brief tournament with a 1-0-1 record after playing World Champion Japan to a 1-1 draw over the weekend in a World Cup final and Algarve Cup rematch. The next match for the U.S. women will be May 27 in Chester, Pa., when they host China in an Olympics tune-up friendly at PPL Park.

Postmatch reaction from manager Pia Sundhage and U.S. players is after the jump:

[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X0sj2PAIDJk]

Comments

  1. I looked at the video frame by frame, Brazil was onside for their goal. The same lineswoman blew the call on the Alex Morgan would be goal.

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  2. I just watched a slow motion replay. Morgan and everyone else looked to be onside. I think it was a makeup call from the Brazil no goal.

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  3. Alex Morgan got a goal too, but the ref screwed up as near as anyone could tell from the replays, and called it back.

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  4. Wasn’t the game time moved up four hours rather than pushed back four hours? The weather in the second half was dismal, pretty good in the first half. Two of the US goals were somewhat fortunate, deflections falling to US players off free kicks served into the box. But the team still looked pretty solid despite the difficult weather conditions.

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  5. You can only beat who is put in front of you. I guess Marta is team Brasil. Good job ladies. Not only that this USWNT is transitioning very nicely to a possession oriented team.

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  6. It’s a surprising result because it was sheer dominance, there was a gulf in class compared the tense, neck and neck nature of their previous meeting just a few months ago. Marta makes all the difference I guess.

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  7. Must have been a Brazil B team? Or did we just play that well? Not too often you beat Brazil 3-0 at any age level, men or women..

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