After showing signs of improvement over the past few months, the United States was brought back to reality by Brazil in a crushing 4-1 victory at Fed Ex Field.
Brazil's highly-coveted sensation Neymar got the Seleção rolling by scoring on a penalty called by Costa Rican referee Jeffrey Calderon. Thiago Silva, Marcelo and Alexandre Pato added a goal each. Hercules Gomez scored for the U.S.
Although the U.S. came into the exhibition match as the underdog, there was some optimism for the Red, White and Blue. Jurgen Klinsmann's men scored five goals against Scotland in a 5-1 victory and prior to that match shocked Italy in a 1-0 away win.
The U.S. opened the match in a similar fashion to the way it did in previous matches. Gomez was given his first appearance and start by the Stars and Stripes since the World Cup and his teammates tried to create opportunities for the in-form Santos Laguna striker. But then Brazil turned to the samba style that is its national calling card.
Hulk dribbled into the box, beating both the U.S. center backs and forcing an aerobatic save from Tim Howard, with the American keeper jumping to block the curling shot with his fingertips. Howard wouldn't stop Brazil's next scoring opportunity. Leandro Damiao blasted a shot towards goal that was blocked by Oguchi Onyewu's right arm in the 12th minute. Replays show that Onyewu didn't intentionally handle, but referee Calderon sided with the visitors.
Neymar calmly tucked the penalty past Howard.
The U.S. tried to fight its way back into the game but Brazil's debutant goalkeeper Rafael had a magnificent match, making one big stop after another. The shot-stopper had five saves in his first appearance for Brazil. Klinsmann's miseries were compounded when Silva took advantage of some poor defending in the box to scoreon a corner in the 26th minute.
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