The U.S. Men’s National Team begins a tough stretch of Fall friendlies on Friday night by taking on Neymar and mighty Brazil
The USMNT is in search of its second win over the Selecao in program history, with the only one coming 20 years ago behind Kasey Keller’s stellar performance in goal.
DeAndre Yedlin, John Brooks and Bobby Wood headline the USMNT starting XI chosen by interim manager Dave Sarachan.
Stand together. Rise together.
Introducing our starting XI for #USAvBRA, pres. by @LibertyMutual.
Lineup notes » https://t.co/Mqhvc2cD9p pic.twitter.com/Uklo2XmSZP
— U.S. Soccer MNT (@USMNT) September 7, 2018
Neymar captains the Brazilian starting XI, which also features Roberto Firmino, Douglas Costa and Philippe Coutinho.
We’ll be adding live updates in the comments section throughout the match so please feel free to follow along, and as always, share your own thoughts on the match below.
FT: USMNT 0 – Brazil 2. Brazil with a comfortable win against the young USMNT at Metlife Stadium. Stars and Stripes back in action on 11th in Nashville against Mexico.
92′ Yedlin and Brooks have been fine tonight but Robinson getting burnt constantly by Costa does not look good. No matter how fast Costa is.
90′ Three mins of stoppage time.
88′ Brazil working around the ball very easy.
87′ Roldan whips a cross in but Brazil able to clear.
81′ Brazil brings on Dede and Everton for Neymar and Thiago Silva.
80′ Miazga and Neymar having a word following a foul by the Brazilian.
75′ Another good cross in by the U.S. but McKennie can’t get enough power on the effort. Alisson gathers.
75′ An all-EPL switch. Roberto Firmino is replaced by Richarlison.
74′ U.S. lacking creativity up top and will need to get something going if they want to cut their deficit in half.
73′ Neymar plays in Firmino but Robinson tracks back and concedes a corner.
72′ A long-range effort from Trapp forces Alisson into his first save of the evening. Corner U.S.
71′ Also, Gyasi Zardes replaces Bobby Wood up top.
71′ Lucas Paqueta makes his senior debut for Brazil as he replaces Coutinho.
65′ Acosta’s free-kick is hit by McKennie but just wide of the net.
60′ Arthur and Willian replace Douglas Costa and Fred respectively as Brazil makes first subs.
Why bother diving in a friendly? Should have been a yellow.
A substantial gulf between the international caliber of Brazil’s team and the young pros in the red white and blue. Only Yedlin looks like he belongs on the field.
Is there really any group of 11 American soccer players that would look anywhere near Brazil’s quality though?
Not currently, no. However the kids look like kids
The field looks pretty rough, with a lot of seams showing. Let’s hope no one gets hurt.
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If there are any USA fans there, it would be great if they could make some noise.
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Wish the Fox guys, or anyone else, could pronounce “Coutinho.” The first syllable is like “coat,” not like “coot.”
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Joe Tansey here with you all tonight. The USMNT may be at home, but it’s a pro-Brazil crowd at MetLife Stadium. Probably a 90-10 split in favor of Brazil.
1′ We are underway in New Jersey.
3; The USMNT opens in a 4-1-4-1 formation with Wil Trapp holding in front of the back four.
Neymar gets on the ball for the first time, but DeAndre Yedlin does well to contain him as the ball goes out of bounds.
5′ The USMNT puts together its first sustained passing buildup in the fifth minute, but it doesn’t push into the final third much.
It’s a small development, but it may serve as a small confidence boost moving forward if the USMNT receives more time on the ball.
9′ Brazil’s first free kick of the contest is cleared out by the home side after a nervy second or two.
Brazil is putting pressure on the left flank at the moment, with Yedlin facing Neymar one-on-one.
12′ GOAL Brazil!
Douglas Costa burns Antonee Robinson down the right flank and he picks out a wide-open Roberto Firmino in the box.
Firmino easily taps the ball into an open net to give Brazil the lead.
16′ Brazil once again tries to play through the left wing and break Neymar in on goal, but Yedlin slides with a perfectly-timed tackle to clear the ball away.
18′ A promising buildup past midfield ends with Paul Arriola’s poor cross flying over the net.
The USMNT needs to be better on the ball when it starts to string passes together.
So far, it hasn’t done anything of note moving toward goal.
23′ Wood retrieves a turnover on the right side of the penalty area, but the ensuing cross into the box fails to find an American body.
The home side needs more out of its wingers in order to have some type of production in attack.
28′ Firmino works well at the top of the penalty area and delivers a pass to the left side.
Yedlin intervenes and sees the ball out for a goal kick.
The experienced right back has been the best player on the field for the USMNT.
33′ The USMNT earns its first corner of the game after a cross intended for Weston McKennie is deflected out of the box.
On the corner, John Brooks misses a header in the middle of the penalty area.
35′ The best stretch of play in the first half from the USMNT results in another corner.
However, it doesn’t turn into a significant chance in the box.
Bobby Wood was down for a moment, but he is back up and appears to be fine.
39′ Brazil’s latest foray into the penalty area causes a bit of havoc, but a blocked shot by Robinson and a save by Steffen ends the move.
The USMNT must get to halftime down 1-0.
If that occurs, the USMNT will be in good shape heading into the second half.
42′ PENALTY TO BRAZIL!
Fabinho darts into the right side of the penalty area.
Trapp barely clips him from behind and the referee calls a penalty.
44′ GOAL BRAZIL!
Neymar stutters in his buildup to the spot and coolly finishes past Steffen into the right side of the net.
HT: Brazil 2, USMNT 0.
Not the worst first half from the USMNT, but some costly mistakes ended up in the pair of Brazilian goals.
The left side of the field is the biggest weakness for the USMNT right now.
46′ The second half is underway at MetLife.
No changes to either side.
47′ Brazil counters after a failed USMNT corner, and the attack ends up in the box with Fred firing a ball across goal that Steffen knocks away.
52′ OFF THE LINE!
Neymar moves into the left side of the penalty area and appears to beat Steffen, but Miazga rushes over to clear the ball off the line!
56′ Tim Weah and Kellyn Acosta come on as the first USMNT subs for Julian Green and Paul Arriola.
Weah is on the left with Acosta central and Adams now out on the right side of midfield.
LLLEEEETTTTTTSSSSSS GGGGOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!
This is the best back 4 the US has so it will be a good test and just hope Trapp can hold up against elite athletes with speed in the midfield
Poor A Robinson looks like a loaner to Wigan tonight
let’s go!