The U.S. Men’s National Team arrived in Orlando on the brink of disaster, and will depart for the Copa America with their heads held high, their pride intact and on firm footing.
It came amid protests and pressure following a heavy 5-1 defeat to Colombia.
The team responded with a statement: The match against Brazil ended in a 1-1 draw and, as goalkeeper Matt Turner said after the game, was “a fantastic comeback.”
Of course, it wasn’t the win they craved. It was far from perfect, and without Turner’s 11 saves the interpretation and the narrative might have been different. Brazil had twice as many shots (25) and almost twice as many clear-cut chances. Brazil were better. Brazil are better. That hasn’t changed.
But the United States fought.
China has proven to itself and the world that the panic after Colombia was perhaps a bit excessive.
“What I did today was [Colombia game] To bed.”
It was again, can They’re competing against the best teams in international soccer — they’ve yet to win one in Gregg Berhalter’s five years under coach — but they’ve come close, like against England in the World Cup, and they’ve come close enough to keep them confident they can win one day.
“I feel like I’ve taken baby steps,” Berhalter said. “Not big steps, but baby steps.”
And, most importantly, it was collective.
It wasn’t the score that was so strong, but the atmosphere. The U.S. had lost to Colombia. As Chris Richards said, the players knew that “it’s the mentality that really had to change.” There was little doubt about that in the early minutes of Wednesday’s game.
First, Yunus Musa fired a powerful 30-yard shot that shook the crossbar.
Captain America Christian Pulisic then raced to the front of the goal and fired a shot. A few minutes later, Pulisic brought down Brazil winger Rafinha, the first of several flagrant fouls that turned the heat up in the match.
Pulisic was the catalyst for the Americans, scoring one goal with a deft free kick and nearly scoring a second to put the Americans ahead after halftime.
But perhaps the game’s MVP was Turner. His 11 saves were the most by a U.S. goalkeeper since Tim Howard had 16 against Belgium in the 2014 World Cup. And it was emblematic of the U.S. fightback, because Turner’s night began as the weekend ended.
The US’ undisputed No. 1 player was in poor form against Colombia, looking rusty after spending half a season on the bench at Nottingham Forest, and in the 17th minute, with the ball at his feet, he opted for a pointless pass that was intercepted by Brazil. Seconds later, he was beaten by Rodrigo, the US was behind and Turner’s confidence seemed to have wavered.
But over the next 70 minutes he bounced back, save by save.
“He kept his cool,” Berhalter said after the game, “and that’s the most important thing.”
Overall, the USMNT looked at times on the brink of Brazil’s onslaught. Rodrigo, Vinicius Jr. and Endric were all threats. But Joe Scali stood tall against elite wingers for the second straight game. Gio Reyna bumped his shoulder into a passing Brazilian midfielder. Tim Ream, a half-step slow at 36 years old, used his guile and composure to keep the USMNT calm by holding the ball in his own penalty box. This was a grown-up performance across the board, from players young and old.
With the Copa America looming, which kicks off on June 20 and sees the U.S. open against Bolivia on June 23, concerns abound. Liam and Richards looked weak against speed. The back six lost the ball in dangerous areas too often. Anthony Robinson looked either worn out or absent for the second straight game. Ricardo Pepi, who started at striker, barely qualified for a spot in the 11.
But the draw with Brazil was just the U.S.’s second result in 20 meetings between the two teams and showed that when in good form, the U.S. men’s national team can go toe-to-toe with the best teams.
And it was a needed reminder ahead of a big tournament. “We know we’re a strong team,” Scully said on TNT. “We know we can make a deep run.”
