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Soccer

Brazil Outclasses US

Posted Jun 18, 2009 12:28PM By Michael Cardillo (RSS feed)

Filed Under: FIFA World Cup, International Soccer, Soccer, U.S. Men's National Team

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If you're a fan of the U.S. men's national soccer team, there's probably no way to sugarcoat Thursday's disheartening 3-0 loss to world power Brazil in the 2009 Confederations Cup. The loss essentially eliminates the U.S. before its final group stage game Sunday against Egypt.

Right from the opening whistle the U.S. looked a step short and like they were lacking energy against the Kaka-led Brazilian assault. Inside of eight minutes Brazil was ahead -- yet another early goal allowed by the U.S. This time it came on a header by Felipe Melo on a perfectly curled free kick Maicon set up after a foul by DaMarcus Beasley.

It didn't get much better for the U.S., or especially Beasley. In the 20th minute, the U.S. had a corner kick played short to Beasley inside the box. He scuffled it, allowing Brazil to execute a perfect counter attack triggered by Kaka, who laid it off to Ramires. Ramires raced up the field, covering tons of space, finally laying it off to Robinho at the edge of the box. The Manchester City star wasted no time and slotted it by Tim Howard.

Adding insult to injury, Robinho was so cool after the goal he walked off to what appeared to be a Brazilian television outlet and said something to the microphone. It was that easy.

Maybe the only U.S. highlight in the first half was when the global feed went out for ESPN.

After the half the U.S. played a little better for the first 10 or so minutes, with Jozy Altidore snaking into the box, but firing high.

It took another turn for the worse for the U.S. when Sacha Kljestan was shown a straight red in the 57th minute for a rash sliding challenge. It marked the second straight game game earned a red card, after Ricardo Clark picked one up for a similarly reckless challenge against Italy.

Brazil put a cherry on it in the 62nd, on a very nice goal by Maicon at a sheer angle, set up again by a nice pass from Kaka.

In the closing minutes, with the game decided, both second-half subs Benny Feilhaber and Connor Casey hit the crossbars, but it was far too little and far too late.

Maybe the only solace right now for the U.S. is that after two games they aren't in last place, thanks to New Zealands's -7 goal differential.

The U.S. players and coach Bob Bradley may try to spin this loss a number of ways. Brazil was too good, or the red card, or hitting the crossbar. (Yet those events happened after the match was essentially over.)

Watching the match unfurl, there were few, if any positives.

Beasley and Clint Dempsey were non-factors once again. There was almost no pressure put on the Brazilian players, who basically strolled through the match as if it were a training session. Most concerning, however, was while watching the game there seemed to be little passion or desire by the U.S., even before they fell behind after the quick Brazilian goals.

If this was a dress rehearsal for the 2010 World Cup, it might be another quick run for the U.S. team next year. It's a shame, too. The U.S. has sold the most tickets for the World Cup, yet after two games in the Confederations Cup there's not a whole lot for those fans to get excited about for the long trip to the Southern Hemisphere.

Well, unless you're a fan of those annoying horns buzzing in the stadiums.

Anyway, at least enjoy the goals from Brazil. Video below.



Tags: bob+bradley, confederations+cup, jozy+altidore, kaka, landon+donovan, robinho

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