Neymar, Pato lead new-look Brazil over US 2-0
EAST RUTHERFORD, N.J. – Neymar scored in his national team debut, Alexandre Pato added a goal late in the first half and new-look Brazil rolled over the United States 2-0 Tuesday night in the first match for both nations since a disappointing World Cup.
Pato doubled the lead in first-half injury time when Ramires' through ball split Bornstein and Carlos Bocanegra, and the 20-year-old AC Milan forward came in alone on Howard for the easy goal, his second in nine appearances and first since his debut against Sweden in March 2008.
Both were overlooked by Dunga for his World Cup roster despite public clamor for their selection in Brazil. Dunga was fired after the 2-1 quarterfinal loss to the Netherlands last month and replaced by Mano Menezes, who promised to restore "Jogo Bonito (Beautiful Game)" as Brazil prepares to host the World Cup in 2014.
A near-sellout crowd of 77,223 attended the high-profile homecoming for a U.S. team that drew record television ratings during the World Cup.
With young, swift players, Brazil showed glimpses of the renowned ball movement that was displaced in South Africa by a dour, defensive game. Brazil won for the 15th time in 16 matches against the U.S. and has outscored the Americans 31-10.
In a one-sided game that featured little U.S. offense, Brazil's youngsters outclassed the American veterans.
Each team had a goal called off. Pato scored on a header in the 32nd minute but plowed into Howard. Michael Bradley beat goalkeeper Victor on a short header in the 57th off a cross from Sacha Kljestan following Landon Donovan's short corner kick, but Bradley was offsides.
The five-time world champions used a 4-3-3 attack-minded formation. Robinho, one of four holdovers from the World Cup roster, slid the ball past backup goalkeeper Brad Guzan in the 53rd minute but it clanked off the far post. Guzan made a nice stop on Neymar's angled shot in the 61st and another diving stop on Neymar in the 70th, two minutes before the forward departed. Paulo Henrique Ganso hit a post from just outside the arc in the 78th, and Guzan made a diving stop with his right hand on Carlos Eduardo in the 83rd.
Ganso, Victor and defender David Luiz also made their international debuts for Brazil, along with subs Andre, Ederson and Jucilei.
For both nations, rebuilding began in the swamps of New Jersey, in a gleaming $1.6 billion stadium set for its first official NFL games next month.
U.S. coach Bob Bradley may have been coaching his finale — his contract expires in December.
Criticized for some of his lineups during the 2-1 overtime loss to Ghana in the World Cup's second round, he made six changes from that starting 11.
He used Maurice Edu in midfield in place of Ricardo Clark, and started Benny Feilhaber and 23-year-old Alejandro Bedoya in the midfield instead of Donovan, who moved up to forward, and Clint Dempsey, who remained in England with Fulham ahead of the Cottagers' Premier League opener Saturday.
MLS scoring leader Edson Buddle started at forward in place of speedy Robbie Findley, who was ineffective in South Africa.
Omar Gonzalez made his international debut at central defender in place of Oguchi Onyewu, who was benched during the World Cup because of rust following knee surgery, and Jay DeMerit, who is searching for a club and hasn't been training. Jonathan Spector replaced Steve Cherundolo at right back and was turned around several times in the first half by Neymar.
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