you would have seen that Brazil actually scored 4 goals in the second half, but were robbed of one by the refs (who probably just didn't have a good angle to see it). So by all rights it should have been 4-2 Brazil.

I don't watch enough soccer to know if Brazil is just that good, or if the US team's defense fell apart, or what. Probably a combo. The US has a fantastic goalie, but Brazil started getting some ridiculous close shots in the second half while the US had only three or four shots at the goal.

great game for USA I think it's hard to beat the #1 team (Spain) and #1A (Brasil) in the same week.

Ah, but a kid up from Fresno for a spot start shut out the Brewers for the Giants this afternoon. Hope he sticks around for a few more rotations to show his stuff. Otherwise, he retires from the major leagues with the best ERA in baseball history.

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I did put up a half-time thread filled with great expectation for a good result. There was no attention/response so I saved some server space and deleted it. (I couldn't cope with the swift Brasilian goals). I did find a satellite channel for a live broadcast and watched the final 20 minutes. Team USA put up a great performance but their passing became inaccurate. Therefore they failed to keep possession of the ball and gave the initiative of play to Brazil. It became an attacking Brazil and team USA defending, it's a matter of time for the excellent Brasilian players to find the minute opening for scoring. With the previous match against Spain, this is a promising advance of USA soccer at the international stage.

LIVE! Half time: USA 2-0 Brazil
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A special for BooMan ... a coup d'etat in progress.

"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

Oops! Just 39 seconds later
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"But I will not let myself be reduced to silence."

Let's just say in the house I was watching it at, there were many expletives, much cursing of all things Brazilian and things thrown during that second half.

We (yeah, I said we) just got tired, and you have to be at the top of your game when you take on a team as talented as Brazil (as we were against Spain).

What I came out of the game thinking is that if we had a different goalie than Tim Howard, we would have lost much worse. That guy and the two center backs (Onyewu and DeMerit) are really, really good.

New Mexico FBIHOP, New Mexico Politics from a New Mexico Perspective

I watch a lot of soccer.  I am an F rated coach (rec leagues, kids).  I am occasionally certified as a referee (although since my running is impaired, not recently).

I watched the game.  In the 1st half, we were on fire.  We won more than 50 % of the 50/50 balls (balls not in anyone's possession).  Our passing was crisp, occasionally had flair, and possessions were long.  The first goal was good, but the second was a dandy.  We should have had 3, but Davies blew a lovely long pass from Donovan inside the Brazil box.

In the 2nd half, Brazil had woken up.  They were hustling.  We would make a pass, our guy would wait, and the B guy would meet the ball.  This happened over and over - out-hustled, folks.  That's just a matter of heart.  It didn't help that the first B goal was on an amazing spin shot 50 seconds into the half.  It was a CORKER.  

In futbol, just as in hockey, the offense will set up outside the box, pass it around, and wait for a shot.  When we did that on offense, B sent 2 guys to harass the ball-handler. When B did that, we did not harass.  They passed around.

My conclusion: 1) Lack of hustle, 2nd half.  2) Slightly weak compacted Defense around the box. 3) Lack of heart.  We needed to UP the effort, not sit on our butts, which is what we did.

Still and all, I ENJOYED the first half.

Nah, it's not a real sport so no loss.

=D