U.S. U-23s are hammered by Brazil

The USA didn't have much of the ball but could take solace from the narrow margin of its 2-1 defeat to Brazil in the first of their two under-23 friendlies. There was less to take away positively from the 5-1 loss in Sunday's second game in Belem. After leading for more of the first half (on an own goal), the U.S. U-23s were blitzed after the break.



Gabriel of Santos and highly regarded Felipe Anderson of Lazio, who come on for the injured Valdivia, had two goals apiece and Luan of Gremio had the fifth goal.

The only U.S. goal came in the fourth minute when defender Marlon put Dillon Serna's corner kick into his own goal.

Brazil, host of the 2016 Olympics, was without many of its under-23 stars: Marquinhos (Paris St. Germain), Rafinha (Barcelona), Lucas Silva (Marseille), Fred (Shakhtar Donetsk) and Luciano (Corinthians).

The USA was missing Matt Miazga and Jordon Morris, who both played in the USA's 6-1 win over St. Vincent & the Grenadines in their World Cup 2018 qualifying opener. Other key U-23s who did not make the trip we5e goalkeeper Ethan Horvath and midfielder Wil Trapp.

Nov. 15 in Belem
Brazil 5 USA 1. Goals: Gabriel 43, 79, Felipe Anderson 46, 62, Luan 83; own goal 4.
Brazil -- Uilson; Zeca (Fabinho 67), Lucao, Marlon (Fred 56), Jorge (Wendell 67); Rodrigo Caio, Walace (Lucas Silva 67), Valdivia (Felipe Anderson 13); Gabriel, Vinicius Araujo (Gabriel Jesus 56), Gustavo Scarpa (Luan 56).
USA -- Cropper; Miller, O’Neill, Brooks (Carter-Vickers 76), Romney; Green (Okwuonu
55), Polster, Guido (Sorto 74), Serna (Zelalem 74); Shelton (Tall, 56), Kiesewetter.
5 comments about "U.S. U-23s are hammered by Brazil".
  1. Kevin Sims, November 16, 2015 at 8:55 a.m.

    Plenty to be concerned about ... let me start with profoundly poor defensive concepts ... lack of proper cover angles, thus inviting passes behind rather than in front ... ball watching galore ... urgent, spontaneous recovery absent ... recovery angles all wrong repeatedly ... loose man-marking in front of goal ... where is the coaching? (not singling out US head coach here at all, but through their youth development when right habits need to be established) ... shame on us!!!!

  2. Andrew Kear, November 16, 2015 at 9:36 a.m.

    Klinsmann's poor tactics have spread to all facets of US soccer.

  3. Scott Johnson replied, November 16, 2015 at 11:08 a.m.

    My kids lost a U11 tournament game over the weekend. Must be Klinsmann's fault.

  4. Andrew Kear, November 17, 2015 at 6:21 a.m.

    Klinsmann sucks big time!!

  5. Kim Littleton, November 19, 2015 at 4:17 p.m.

    The problem is clearly bringing in these boys from overseas (namely Green And Zelalem) who are not all they are made out to be. Bring in some of our D1 midfielders and see what happens. This is embarrassing and needs to be addressed forthwith. As soon as the NCAA tournament is done, Herzog should call a camp and bring in the midfielders from the various programs. Not like the group he called in the summer, but a fresh group who will get the job done! We cannot miss another Olympics....

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