The United States Women’s National Team hosted Brazil in the second of two friendlies scheduled for the April international window and suffered a 2-1 loss. Catarina Macario scored the lone goal for the hosts, bringing her career total to 10, while Brazil’s Kerolin and Gutierres tallied goals for the visitors in front of a sold-out crowd at PayPal Park.
In one of the fastest-paced friendlies I’ve seen in recent memory, whenever one side played out the back, the other would press. While the U.S. dropped off in the second half, Brazil continued to press the Americans whenever they played out the back. The inexperience of some players surely played into the loss of possession and mental mistakes, but if mistakes are to be made, friendlies are where you want them to happen.
Confusion in Brazil’s box led to the first goal of the match in the first minute. Confusion in the box led to a crowd forming just feet away from Brazil’s Natascha. Gisele Thompson dribbled into the box but soon lost possession. After a few seconds of chaos in front of the keeper, Catarina Macario of the U.S. was able to get the ball across the goal line for the first goal of the match. It was officially clocked at 34 seconds, making it the 7th fastest in goal in USWNT history.
In the 23rd minute, Kerolin put Brazil on the board with a rocket from inside the left corner of the 18-yard box. When Brazil caught the U.S. on a counterattack, Kerolin was played a through ball by Gio and penetrated the backline. She took a few steps with the ball, adjusted her body, and sent a rocket into the top right corner.
Just minutes into the second half, Brazil looked keen on breaking the deadlock. Just as the U.S. lost possession in their half just outside the 18, Gio recovered the ball for Brazil. The striker took two quick steps and took a long-range shot on goal. The attempt was veering wide but took a deflection off Alana Cook and sent the ball the other way. The ball went out of bounds but came close enough to make the keeper dive for it.
In the 71st minute, Brazil had another good look on goal but couldn’t convert. A long ball broke the backline and found the feet of Gio. As she timed her touch, she sent a lofty cross past the keeper to Kerolin. Kerolin struck the ball on her first touch and tried to redirect it, but the ball went wide of the post.
Brazil’s attack was ruthless and the visitors continued to keep the four-time world champions on their heels. Kerolin beat her defender and dribbled deeper into the box. She fired a shot on goal, but Mandy McGlynn reacted quickly with the deflection. The ball fell to Luany just feet away from the goal line, but the Atletico Madrid forward skied her attempt into the stands.
Brazil finally stole the show on a counterattack deep into stoppage time. In the 94th minute, Luany was streaking down the right side in open space. Amanda Gutierres was sprinting down the left in open space, having already beaten her defender. Luany sent a slow, calculated low ball across the face of goal that found Gutierres for the easy tap-in.
It was an incredibly fast-paced match with neither team letting up. Brazil ended up getting the better of the U.S. and was relentless in attack. Had their efforts on goal been more accurate, this could’ve been a three to four goal drubbing. Emma Hayes will have a lot to look at after this match, as the defending was poor and the outing wasn’t the best for goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn.
The next pair of friendlies for the USWNT will be against China on May 31 in St. Paul, MN, and June 3 in St. Louis, MO.
-Jon Jones
Photos: James Lyons