USA beats Brazil to head into last 16 of Under-20

[Zeppo]

United States beat Brazil to head into last 16 of Under-20

Josmer Altidore scored twice to give the United States a 2-1 win over Brazil on Friday and secure their place in the last 16 of the Under-20 World Cup.

Poland finished second in Group D after a 1-1 draw with South Korea left them with four points, one more than the Brazilians who must now hope they can take one of the four spots available to the best third-placed teams.

Altidore put the United States ahead in the 25th minute, bustling through the middle of the Brazilian defense before slotting home with a confident right-foot shot.

(continue)

[Zeppo]

[Zeppo]

Here are the highlights:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...73742090&hl=en

And check out the move that Adu put on the defenders to free himself for his run and shot that led to the gamewinning goal. Unfortunately the slo-mo replay doesn't show it. But damn! Freddy took those Brazilians to school!

[Muadib]

Here are the highlights:

http://video.google.com/videoplay?do...73742090&hl=en

And check out the move that Adu put on the defenders to free himself for his run and shot that led to the gamewinning goal. Unfortunately the slo-mo replay doesn't show it. But damn! Freddy took those Brazilians to school!

Zeppo, do you know why USA will never be a World Soccer power ?

[Zeppo]

U.S. takes giant steps with defeat of Brazil

They knew it would take an even better effort, plus a little bit of magic, to beat mighty Brazil in their Group D finale Friday night in Canada's capital. They ended up getting both, as well as the first meaningful U.S. victory over a Brazilian side -- at any level -- in 18 years.

"It still hasn't sunk in right now," said Jozy Altidore, who scored both goals in the 2-1 win. "It was a great game, a great night."

Altidore may have walked out of Frank Clair Stadium holding the game ball, but the hero once again was Freddy Adu. Adu had a hand in both U.S. goals. Altidore's second came after Adu danced through a pair of defenders on the end line and his ensuing shot was deflected to Altidore -- who put the Americans up for good with less than ten minutes left to play.

(continue)

[Karl]

United States beat Brazil to head into last 16 of Under-20

Josmer Altidore scored twice to give the United States a 2-1 win over Brazil on Friday and secure their place in the last 16 of the Under-20 World Cup.

Poland finished second in Group D after a 1-1 draw with South Korea left them with four points, one more than the Brazilians who must now hope they can take one of the four spots available to the best third-placed teams.

Altidore put the United States ahead in the 25th minute, bustling through the middle of the Brazilian defense before slotting home with a confident right-foot shot.

(continue)

Excellent victory!
That I knew that one day the US would play a Brazil national team with complete confidence - relaxed, smiles galore, taking the game to Brazil, NO FEAR! NO RESERVATION! - is fact! ..but, it is equal fact that I never expected to see it happen so quickly!

At times the US players appeared to treat the Brazilian players with disdain. It was obvious that the Brazilians were somewhat better technically...yet that technical disparity was miniscule. Tactically the US matched Brazil. Deserved win!

The US has moved miles forward in the game since 1994. I am now looking forward with bated breath to see an unearthing...actually taking the real vast horde of technically superb unknowns throughout the by-ways of the country...of players from the vast reservior of untapped talent, fitting the best of the best of that lot into the national teams and conquering the world.

Yes, "I believe"! Yes sah, RESPEK DUE!

That last goal?

Adu caught the ball in the corner down the right flank and pulled a Brazilian act on three (3) Brazilian defenders, leaving them for dead, took a shot, which was deflected and resulted in Altidore's second - a tap-in, was superb!

...if only the JFF...?????

[Zeppo]

Nelson Rodrigues, Brazil coach: "We were drawn in the hardest group of the tournament, and I reckon the qualifiers will go through to the semi-finals at least. We've still got a chance of going through, and if we manage it, we'll still be one of the favourites for the title. We didn't play badly today, and we even managed to create plenty of chances. We just didn't put them away that's all. The USA did though, and that's why they got the three points. As for Freddy Adu, well he's a very special footballer with the kind of ability you see in South American players. He showed the efficiency that we were lacking."

http://fifa.com/u20worldcup/matches/...61/quotes.html

[Zeppo]

U.S. stuns Brazil, shakes up tournament

American soccer took another giant leap forward in stunning fashion last night at Frank Clair Stadium.

But a miracle on turf?

Far from it on this evening, though the U.S. was full value for this latest bit of soccer history, a 2-1 takedown of mighty Brazil that has thrown the U20 World Cup into a full state of turmoil.

(continue)