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.
Neymar, the 18-year-old Santos sensation, had just switched with Robinho and moved from the left flank to the center. Andre Santos came down the left side and crossed, and Neymar beat Jonathan Bornstein and sent a header inside Tim Howard’s left post in the 29th minute.
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.