Academy

USA crush Brazil: LA Galaxy product Haji Wright leads Under-17s to 4-1 win, Nike Friendlies title

US Under-17 national team and LA Galaxy Academy striker Haji Wright

USA crush Brazil. It's not often those words have been uttered when it comes to men's soccer.


Just days after demolishing England 5-1, the US Under-17 national team coached by former MLS player Richie Williams annihilated Brazil 4-1 on Friday night to claim the 2014 Nike International Friendlies tournament in a match played in Lakewood Ranch, Fla., that was anything but friendly.


WATCH: US U-17s react to Brazil victory

LA Galaxy Academy prospect Haji Wright (above) scored a brace to capture the tournament's Golden Boot as top scorer and his goals book-ended tallies by tournament MVP and Pennsylvania native Christian Pulisic and Monterrey player Joe Gallardo.



A draw would have been enough for the Brazilian team to win the tournament, but instead the South Americans unraveled in a testy match that featured more than a few dust-ups. Brazil would finish the match with nine players after two straight red cards in the 40th and 86h minutes.


Wright put the home team ahead after just eight minutes on the first US chance of the match, only for Brazil to equalize through Marcelo de Souza in the 16th minute.


But the US U-17s were unfazed and Gallardo, who scored a hat trick against England, put the Americans back on top off a 22nd-minute corner kick which proved enough for a 2-1 halftime lead.


Playing with a man advantage after the break, the USA capitalized with Gallardo turning provider for Pulisic's easy tap-in in the 56th minute before Wright sealed the final 4-1 result in the 68th minute with his fifth goal of the tournament.