In the opener of a two-match week intended to ready the US national team for October's CONCACAF Cup matchup with Mexico, the USMNT scored a 2-1 comeback victory on Friday against Peru at RFK Stadium on the strength of Jozy Altidore's brace.
Now it's off to New England for the second leg, where Brazil – and Orlando City SC star Kaká – await. As the South American side works to rebound from a quarterfinal elimination to Paraguay during July's Copa America, the US will be seeking to build on the momentum gained against Peru.
The two teams face off Tuesday night (8 pm ET; ESPN2/WatchESPN/UniMás/UDN) at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough, Massachusetts, where a temporary grass pitch has been laid over the artificial surface that the NewEngland Revolution call home.
TALL TASK: The USMNT have faced mighty Brazil on many occasions, but their all-time record against the five-time world champions makes for grisly reading. How grisly? Try 1-16-0, dating back to their first meeting in 1930 in Rio de Janeiro, a 4-3 Brazil victory. The Yanks' sole triumph was a 1-0 victory in a 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup semifinal, where goalkeeper Kasey Keller – who's serving as the USMNT's goalkeeping coach during this camp – produced an epic 10-save display that earned his main Brazilian foe, striker Romario, dumbfounded.
“That was the greatest performance I have ever seen in a goalkeeper It was an honor to be on the field with him,” said the World Cup-winning goalscoring icon afterwards. “I take the blame. But that goalkeeper was incredible.”
BACK TO BOSTON: Tuesday's match takes place in familiar territory for Revolution midfielder Jermaine Jones, who shared an update on his status with MLSsoccer.com's Craig Forde over the weekend. But it's also a homecoming for Boston College product Alejandro Bedoya and versatile defender Geoff Cameron, who grew up in nearby Attleboro, Massachusetts.
"It's good to be back in front of family and friends," Cameron told ESPNFC's Jeff Carlisle, who analyzed the crowded USMNT midfield picture on Monday. "It will be the first time I'm with the national team playing in front of them. It's an honor and a pretty special time to be here."
SLICK SELECAO: Currently ranked No. 5 in the FIFA World Rankings, Brazil opened their two-game US tour with a 1-0 win over Costa Rica at Red Bull Arena in Harrison, New Jersey on Friday night via a 10th-minute strike from Hulk. The South Americans dominated the match, outshooting Los Ticos 16-1 and forcing several quality saves out of goalkeeper Patrick Pemberton. Orlando City's Kaká came on as a 67th-minute substitute and was greeted with a rousing ovation from the 19,146 in attendance, as was FC Barcelona star Neymar Jr. in the 82nd.
“You can't have a perfect game,” Brazilian manager Carlos Dunga said via translator. “Lot of things we practiced in training came out well and we can do them even better. I liked how this team performed. We created a lot of chances. We would have liked to score more goals, but a lot of times in soccer, one is enough.”
US ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (3) : Brad Guzan (Aston Villa), Tim Howard (Everton), Sean Johnson (Chicago Fire)
DEFENDERS (8) : Ventura Alvarado (Club America), John Brooks (Hertha Berlin), Geoff Cameron (Stoke City), Greg Garza (Atlas), Omar Gonzalez (LA Galaxy), Michael Orozco (Club Tijuana), Tim Ream (Fulham), Jonathan Spector (Birmingham City)
MIDFIELDERS (8) : Alejandro Bedoya (Nantes), Michael Bradley (Toronto FC), Joe Corona (Veracruz), Mix Diskerud (New York City FC), Jermaine Jones (New England Revolution), Alfredo Morales (FC Ingolstadt), Danny Williams (Reading), DeAndre Yedlin (Sunderland)
FORWARDS (6) : Jozy Altidore (Toronto FC), Aron Johannsson (Werder Bremen), Bobby Wood (Union Berlin), Jordan Morris (Stanford), Andrew Wooten (SV Sandhausen), Gyasi Zardes (LA Galaxy)
BRAZIL ROSTER
GOALKEEPERS (3): Jefferson (Botafogo), Marcelo Grohe (Gremio), Alisson (Internacional)
DEFENDERS (8): David Luiz (PSG), Marquinhos (PSG), Miranda (Inter Milan), Gabriel Paulista (Arsenal), Daniel Alves (Barcelona), Filipe Luiz (Atletico Madrid), Danilo (Real Madrid), Douglas Santos (Atlético Mineiro)
MIDFIELDERS (9): Luis Gustavo (Wolfsburg), Fernandinho (Manchester City), Elias (Corinthians), Ramirez (Chelsea), Oscar (Chelsea), Firmino (Liverpool), Willian (Chelsea), Kaká (Orlando City SC), Lucas Lima (Santos)
FORWARDS (4): Neymar (Barcelona), Lucas (PSG), Hulk (Zenit St. Petersburg), Douglas Costa (Bayern Munich)
