USA v. Brazil

**Confederations Cup Special**

Dirk here with an early morning Skip To My Lank international soccer special.

Today the US takes on Brazil. This has always been a tough match for the US with only one win against Brazil in recent memory. A win we owe entirely to Predrag Radosavljević, also known as the one and only Preki. That 1998 Gold Cup victory has been the reason that Sam's Army always holds faith against one of the worlds premier national teams. However with superstars the likes of Kaka, Pato, Fat Ronaldo, Adriano and Ronaldiho the Brazilian national teams is one of the most popular in the world. Luckily for the Sams most of those namesakes for Brazil aren't active for the Confederations Cup. With Fat Ronaldo (another player that will put one in the net no mater how old, or fat he is), Adriano and Ronaldinho left off the squad for the likes of Gilberto Silva, the Sams have a chance because this Brazil team doesn't have the same killer line-up it once did.

Line-ups:
USA 4-5-1
Howard
Spector
Onyewu
Demerit
Bornstein
Donovan
Dempsey
Beasley
Bradley
Kljestan
Altidore

Brazil 4-4-2
Julio Cesar
Maicon
Mirando
Andre Santos
Lucio
Gilberto Silva
Kaka
Ramires
Felipe Milo
Robinho
Luis Fabiano

0'-US wearing their the color of angels again and Brazil coming out in the yellow and blue. It will be interesting to see how the US adapts to the different style of another talented team. Italy and Brazil are world class, but play much different styles. Our official if from Switzerland, which I fully approve of.

2:35 - in a socking development we see the first fancy footwork and flair from the US side. Lando with a little flick of the ball over his head to a teammate.

5'- So far Brazil has been playing a more physical brand of soccer, putting their body on US players.

5:46'- First flop by the Brazilian Ramires

6'-GOAL Felipe Melo - Set piece gives Brazil the lead. Puts the header in the back of the net. The US have had trouble early in matches. It's going to me a struggle to get back in this now. Brazil just knows how to turn flops into goals. Rather unfortunate.

10'- We Brazil is finding their flair. With and early goal they aren't afraid to show off and be inventive. Maicon with the flop in the same position as the earlier free kick they score on. Poor clearance by the US and Brazil gets a couple of chances on goal, but to no result.

12'- The US is on their heels and need to find some confidence and ability to hold the ball. It will be a long match if you have to chase the ball for 90 minutes.

13'- Kaka just showing that he is better than our whole team, Makes the run to the 6 yard box and wins a corner.

16'- Brazil is just faster and more skilled than the US right now. The US keeps playing a long ball to an attacker and just leaving him up top by himself. Not a good brand of soccer. The US is struggling to find holes in the Brazilian defense.

18'- Brazil on a 3 on 3 break. Robinho flops on the edge of the box and the ref tells him to stand up. Could have been bad for the US.

19'- GOAL Robinho - Only the US has the ability to turn their own corner kick into a goal for the other team. US misplays the ball and Brazil counters and just runs away from the US defense. 2 on 1 easy goal for Brazil to convert.

20'- The US with a chance on the corner, got a head to it, just couldn't put it on goal. Atleast we didn't give up a goal on that one.

Well the picture has now gone out. That might be the best thing for this USA soccer fan. Its early and ugly. I wonder what the score will be when the picture comes back.

25'- Picture is back. Don't know what has happened but it is still Brazil 2, US 0. If the 5 minutes of missing airtime were anything like the first 20 then I am glad the screen when blank.

27'- Brazil is just looking dangerous on long balls to the strikers. They are just outrunning the US defense.

30'- The game pace is slowing a bit with Brazil holding the ball more and just picking their spots to start an attack.

32'- Corner for the US. Lets not give up a goal this time.

33'- Yellow Card - Oneywu - Just a bad sliding challenge from behind for Oneywu as he was coming back from the corner kick, he deserves that yellow.

35'- The television is telling me that the possession split is 48-52 Brazil. I could have sworn it was more like 70-30.

36'- Oneywu makes a mistake on the header giving Fabiano a open run on goal. Howard makes an easy save of the shot however. It could have been much worse.

38'- Donovan with a beautiful run through the midfield. He and Spector did well working together to create an 80 yard run. The difference is that Brazil would have turned that into a goal. Best chance for the US so far.

39'- Brazil with another chance on a header. Gilberto Silva misses one he should have converted. Its funny how you can be down 2-0 and still think you are "catching" breaks, most teams would think everything had to go wrong to be down 2 goals early.

41'- Brazil with a dangerous free kick. Ball drops to Melo on the back post, but he send it over the cross bar. The US needs to make sure they don't give up a late goal before half. It would be ideal if they could cut it to 1 here in the last minutes, but I'm not holding my breath.

45'- HALFTIME - Brazil 2, USA 0
A horrible half of US soccer. As the US get more and more frustrated the Brazilian attack has been working better and better. Some major changes and improvements need to be made at the half, and that might not even be enough. I dunno, maybe Brazil might come out with with only 6 players and no defenders on the field for the second half, so we could still have a chance.

46'- SUB Casey in, Beasley out. The second half is underway with a change for the US going towards a more offensive look with Casey in. Casey is second in the MLS for goals scored, Brazil probably doesn't see that kind of firepower when they are playing club side in the EPL or La Liga.

47'- Casey and Altidore string some passes together for the best US chance of the day. Casey gives it to Altidore in the box, unfortunately is was on his left foot and we all know how that ends.

50'- The US is looking a lot better to start this half, more confident, better passing and the movement is all there. They are holding the possession and creating offensive opportunities. Bradley attempts a strike from distance, it goes wide.

53'-Brazil with a real chance running at the US defense. Slowly passing the ball around the box finding the open man at the back post, but Robinho can't put it past Howard. On a side note, Maicon has been working the right side up and down making Bornstein look real bad despite his best efforts.

54'- Howard with a GREAT save. Kaka gets the ball at the top of the 18 and just dribbles to a straight on open shot that Kaka usually converts. Excellent save, I thought he would put that on in the back of the net.

55'- Ramires is down with an injury by the hands of Kljestan. Ramires hasn't been afraid to hit the turf and embellish a foul today. Kljestan says he got a RED CARD! What? Again? This is terrible. They didn't show it on TV but Kljestan is sent off! Wow. Now down to 10 against a great team again.

60'- SUB Feilhaber in, Altidore out.

61'-GOAL Maicon - Brazil 3, USA 0. He has been working right side all day and Brazil just passes it through the defense and Maicon finishes a tough shot from the endline. Tough finish from that position, US makes the mistake, but give credit to Maicon for a good finish on a tough shot.

66'- Brazil is just putting together great passes and just choosing where they want to attack. Its gonna be a long last 20 for the Sams.

68'- SUB Fabiano out, Nilmar In. Kaka out, Baptista in. Just getting some minutes for more players here for Brazil. No need to get Kaka injured with the US making bad tackles all over the pitch.

71'- The US has lost all energy and movement. Players are just standing around waiting for Brazil to hold the ball and make them look silly.

74'-Dempsey trying to create something but looses the ball which starts up the Brazilian counter attack. US is lucky to escape with a goal kick.

80'- 10 minutes left and it has just turned into a passing game. Both teams put the ball in to the others area once in a while, but this game is now just a possession drill taking place in the midfield area. Both teams look content just to let the time expire on this one.

83'- US with a CHANCE! Feilhaber puts it off the crossbar! Spector with an excellent run and pass to the middle. Would have been nice, but no such luck. Brazil turns around and counters attacks! US almost gives up another, but Howard is there with strong hands.

85'- Its turned into a counter attacking game, quick play from one end to the other. Dempsey playing with some flair and a couple of cross over dribbles but nothing comes of it.

87'- Dempsey draws the foul and feels like its his duty to show the Brazilians he has some flash too. A lot of useless footwork that doesn't do much, but he earned a good spot for the free kick near the left corner.

88'- Another one off the post. Donovan puts it in and Casey gets a head on it. The strong MLS offensive mindset is showing in Casey's play.

89'- Brazil with a cross right in front of the net. Onyewu clears it, otherwise its another goal from Brazil.

90'- Brazil with a free kick almost straight on from 20 yards out. Could be dangerous.

90+2'- After some discussion and egos getting in the way, Baptista takes the shot and airmails it. Way to go Baptista.

90+3'- The Sams have a long free kick now from about 40 yards. Dempsey steps up to take it. I heard normally we would have Cristiano Ronaldo taking these, but his naturalization papers got held up. Not even a close attempt by Dempsey. And that is the match.

All done here, Brazil 3, USA 0. Man of the Match - Maicon. I give it to the Brazilian defender here. With an assist and a goal he played well the entire match on both ends of the pitch. Robinho is a close second doing an excellent job on the offensive end.

Well Brazil is the second team to secure a spot in past the groups stage joining Spain. The US is the second team to be eliminated following eh Kiwis with an early exit. Thats all for now. The Sams take on Egypt on Sunday at 2pm EST. See you folks then.

~Dirk - International Soccer Correspondent