The Road to Sweden continued with a pair of victories over fellow World Cup qualifier Brazil.
It wasn’t quite the Brazil one might expect.
No pretty passing game, deft backheels; not much flair at all. But this wasn’t the World Cup champion Brazil men’s team against the U.S. men. It was the World Cup-bound Brazilian women — a rough, hard tackling bunch that was the U.S. women’s latest opponent en route to the World Cup in Sweden.
The U.S. beat Brazil in two matches in the Pacific Northwest, the first a 3-0 victory in Tacoma, Wash., May 12, and then a 4-1 win at the University of Portland two days later. It was the first time the two teams had met since the 1991 World Championship, and the South Americans were impressive.
“They’ve improved tons. They’re a much better team now,” said U.S. midfielder Julie Foudy, who was on the team that beat Brazil 5-0 in ’91. “They have lots of skill, lots of team speed.”
Brazil’s talent showed more in the wide expanse of Portland’s Merlo Field, where both teams were able to play a more attractive game than the one two days prior. Brazil was called for 26 fouls and the U.S. for 17 in the narrow confines of Franklin Pierce High School.
“It was a small field, I think it was just 58 yards wide,” said Foudy. “It kind of condoned a game like that … The first field wasn’t ideal conditions for a soccer match. Maybe they figured they would disrupt us [with their rough tactics].”
In Tacoma, Brazilian midfielder Leda Maria was ejected in the 77th minute for her second yellow card and then coach Ademar Fonseca was tossed for charging onto the field in protest. Brazil collected five yellows and two reds that day, while Foudy was also cautioned.
Foudy had a busy day as she set up Mia Hamm for goals early and late. Midfielder Tisha Venturini also scored with a spectacular volley off a Tiffeny Milbrett feed.
Brazil — like U.S. nemesis Norway and Finland, the previous U.S. opponent —
played with a withdrawn forward or attacking midfielder, which meant that Foudy had to stay put in midfield to help the defense and couldn’t make push up into the attack as she tends to do.
Milbrett shines before home fans
DiCicco was without one of his top guns in Portland, as Hamm missed the game due to a prior obligation. She was back with the team the next day when it traveled to Dallas for a May 19 match against Canada.
But the U.S. bench showed its depth, with DiCicco starting Milbrett, the former University of Portland forward and Portland native who was playing at the site of her last collegiate hurrah, the NCAA final four last November.
Milbrett, playing on the right wing, didn’t disappoint the home crowd. She assisted Carin Gabarra on the first U.S. goal 15 minutes into the match after Carla Overbeck and Kristine Lilly combined on a give-and-go, with Overbeck then sending Milbrett off a with a pass down the left side. Milbrett dribbled into the box and cut the ball back to Gabarra near the penalty spot, and Gabarra’s shot beat a feeble challenge by sweeper Elane. Milbrett scored the last goal herself when she stuck in a rebound of a Gabarra shot in the 44th minute.
Michelle Akers was superb, converting a penalty in the 31st minute after she was brought down in the box during a U.S. corner kick. She scored again nine minutes later when Gabarra and Milbrett set her up near the top of the box and she blistered a shot to the right of Brazilian goalkeeper Meg.
The best Brazilian performance of the day belonged to their No. 10, Sissi, who momentarily tied the game at 1-1 when she scored Brazil’s only goal in the 19th minute.
It was the first goal the U.S. had allowed in 561 minutes.
by Soccer America Associate Editor Dean Caparaz
May 12 in Tacoma, Wash.
United States 3, Brazil 0. Goals: Hamm (2, 81), Venturini (85).
U.S. — Scurry, Overbeck, Hamilton, Fawcett, Roberts, Foudy, Venturini, Lilly, Hamm, Akers (Milbrett, 82), Gabarra.
Brazil — Meg, Valeria, Elane, Suzy (Michael Jackson, 72), Fanta, Solage, Leda Maria, Cenira, Sissi, Pretinha, Roseli.
Ref.: Parra (Canada).
Att.: 3,291.