Brazil v. US is generally an ugly game. Brazilians tries to pass the ball around and pace the game a little bit, while the US tries to capitalize on crosses and headers. This was not the case today, at Soldiers Field in Chicago. In a match full of goals and uncalled penalty kicks, Brazil took the victory home 4×2.

The first half began with Brazil passing the ball around and the US marking tight. It was is one of the above mentioned US crosses that the Brazilian defense got mixed up, letting Bocanegra free to score a goal (ugly one, but still a goal). Ronaldinho created some good chances and put Afonso in front of the goal twice. Unfortunately, the forward is not national team material yet. He still has to mature in the pitch, as he misses too many goals.

Brazil finally found the net after an amazingly fast counter attack. Maicon to Afonso, Afonso to Robinho, Robinho found Ronaldinho, Ronalldinho found Kaka. The midfielder took the shot right on US goalie Howard, and the ball hit Onyewu and ended up and the back of his own net.

In on of the nicest individual plays I hjave seen in a while, Robinho managed to leave 3 US defenders wondering what day of the week it was, after 2 dribbles and a penalty that was considered a dive by the referee.

The second half brought a goal right away. On the 8th minute, after a corner from Ronaldinho, Brazilian defender Lucio hit the net. A nice and deserved goal from a defender who has done a lot for the Brazilian team.

The referee was probably a little blind today. He did not call a second penalty, this time to the US.

But the team from Bob Bradley tied the match with a nice goal from Dempsey. The happiness, however, did not last. Ronaldinho scored a lovely goal on a free kick, and shut up all of those who have been saying that the player does not deliver as much on the Brazilian team as he does on Barcelona. Brazil still managed to put one more in on the 90th minute. Elano who substituted for Robinho, scored on a penalty kick.

I have to say the match presented much more than I was expecting. A fast paced game, with good passes and lots of goals.
Brazil will now take Mexico on Wednesday in Boston.