Neymar scored in his Brazil debut and Alexandre Pato added a goal as a revamped Brazil beat the USA 2-0 Tuesday in the first match for both countries since the World Cup.
Neymar scored in his Brazil debut and Alexandre Pato added a goal as a revamped Brazil beat the USA 2-0 Tuesday in the first match for both countries since the World Cup.
Neymar, the 18-year-old Santos phenomenon, had just switched with Robinho and moved from the left flank to the center.
ADVERTISEMENT
Andre Santos came down the left side and crossed, and Neymar beat Jonathan Bornstein and sent a header inside US keeper Tim Howard's left post in the 28th minute.
Pato added a second goal in first-half injury time when a ball from Ramires' split Bornstein and Carlos Bocanegra, and the 20-year-old AC Milan forward came in alone on Howard for the goal.
Both of Brazil's scorers overlooked by Dunga for his World Cup squad despite public outcry for their selection in Brazil.
Dunga was sacked in the wake of Brazil's 2-1 quarter-final loss to the Netherlands last month and replaced by Mano Menezes, who promised to restore "The Beautiful Game" as Brazil begins the build-up to hosting the 2014 World Cup.
The friendly attracted a near-sellout crowd of 77,223 to the New Meadowlands Stadium.
Brazil's young, quick players showed flashes of the deft game that Brazil abandoned for defensiveness in South Africa, the youngsters from South America out-playing the US veterans.
Both teams had a goal called off. Pato headed the ball into the goal in the 32nd minute but cashed into Howard. Michael Bradley was ruled offsides after beating goalkeeper Victor on a header in the 57th off a cross from Sacha Kljestan following Landon Donovan's corner kick.
Ganso, Victor and defender David Luiz also made their international debuts for Brazil, along with substitutes Andre, Ederson and Jucilei.
Robinho, one of four holdovers from the World Cup campaign, slid the ball past backup US goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 53rd minute but it bounced off the post.
Guzan saved an angled shot by Neymar in the 61st and made a diving save on Neymar in the 70th.
In the 83rd Guzan dived again to deny Carlos Eduardo.
The match was held in the new 1.6 billion-dollar stadium that will host its first NFL games next month.
It might have been the last US match with coach Bob Bradley at the helm. His conctract expires in December.
Subscribe today by clicking the link and stay updated with the latest news!" Click here!
