US Under 20s stun Brazil 2-1, Altidore tallies both
Published 7/6/2007 8:23:49 PM by staff from soccermogul.com
Freddy Adu set up two goals for Josmer Altidore as the United States claimed an unlikely three points against Brazil in Ottawa. The Americans are through as the winners of Group D on seven points, while stunned Brazil could be out of the tournament after finishing third in the table on just three.
In a pulsating match, the US opened the scoring in the 25th minute as Adu worked hard to dispossess the Brazilians in their own third. He set up big striker Altidore, who blasted a ball through the sprawled Brazil goalkeeper. With their blood pressure rising, the Auriverdes pulled back a scrappy equaliser in the 64th minute as Leandro Lima just managed to touch the ball past the American goalkeeper at the end of a goal-mouth scramble. But, Adu was a consistent thorn in the side of the favourites, and it was his mazy run down the right side that set up the winner after his shot was deflected to Altidore alone in front of net. Brazil pushed wildly for their second with Alexandre Pato and Marcelo pulling the strings, but their strikers were wasteful, and in the end the Americans deserved their victory and the celebrations that followed. Chris Seitz was fabulous in goal for the United States making several crucial saves in the 2nd half.
After losing two of their group matches, the Brazilians will now have to wait for results of other groups to see if they will advance into the second round. It's the second time that the Americans have beaten Brazil in a FIFA event out of 10 tries, and they advance with a huge lift to meet the third-place team from either Group B, E or F.
www.soccermogul.com
Label: US Under 20 national team, Freddy Adu, Josmer Altidore, U20 World Cup
|