The Brazilian women’s football team lost 1-0 to the United States, this Tuesday (9), at Arena Castelão, in Fortaleza (CE), in the second friendly on national territory, after Saturday’s (8) 2-1 victory, at Neo Química Arena, in São Paulo.
The game was heading towards a draw with a great performance from goalkeeper Lorena, but it ended with the Brazilian players, and the coaching staff, completely offside after the American goal, scored by Wilson at 17 minutes into the second half.
Coach Artur Elias and other assistants were expelled for complaining even before the goal.
Afterwards, midfielder Bia Zaneratto received a second yellow and also received a red, as did defender Tarciane (for an elbow) and attackers Ludmilla and Kerolin, for complaints after the game.
Even Marta, who came on 35 minutes into the second half to try to react, received a yellow card.
The score showed that American coach Emma Hayes was right in her programming.
After the defeat in São Paulo, she gathered the players on the pitch and gave a speech making it clear that the atmosphere of pressure from the fans was what she wanted the squad to experience as a test for next year’s World Cup in Brazil.
“If we take the easy way out, we stay at home in a nice environment. All of this around us is for us, filling us with whatever we need to feel comfortable. I’ve coached at a lot of games, I’ve never heard anything like that before,” she said, regarding the noise from the fans.
The coach ended her speech by stating that her team would be better in this Tuesday’s friendly after learning from the first duel.
And that’s what happened. At Arena Castelão, the Americans really seemed to be more used to the crowd’s screams, which made the confrontation much more fierce. Both teams had many opportunities to score goals, especially the visitors.
Defender Isa Haas opened the scoring for Brazil 38 minutes into the first half, with a header, but it was ruled offside.
The USA scored on a lucky shot, 17 minutes into the second half. Wilson escaped Isa Haas’ marking on the left and shot from outside the area. The ball hit Isabela and entered the right corner, deceiving Lorena. The goal was given to the Brazilian, against.
The visiting team had other great chances to expand, but stopped at the inspired Lorena, who saved the Brazilian team on at least four occasions.
At 48 minutes into the first half, two defenses avoided the worst. In a cross shot by Emma Sears, Lorena passed the ball into the area. Wilson grabbed the rebound and shot low into the middle of the goal, but the goalkeeper jumped and slotted the ball in.
In the 26th minute, she saved again with a point-blank shot from Rodman, inside the small area, after a throw-in from the right. Five minutes later, another providential exit, with the feet. And he even had a ball hit the post on a counterattack.
Marta, aged 40, replaced Tainá Maranhão, but the game was already nervous on the Brazilian side. The Americans took the opportunity to wax and let time pass to guarantee victory.
The duel was also marked by the record attendance for women’s football in the Northeast, with 55,744 paying fans, surpassing the 33,272 fans in Brazil’s friendly against Jamaica, in 2024, at Arena Pernambuco.
Arena Castelão is one of the stadiums for the 2027 World Cup, which will be held in the country from June 24th to July 27th.
