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]