1 Jun 2012

Neymar powers Brazil over hosts United States

11:57 am on 1 June 2012

The Brazil playmaker Neymar scored one goal and set up two more to spark the five-time World Cup champions past the United States 4-1 in an international football friendly in Maryland.

The Brazilians used the match to study talent ahead of the London Olympics and played a young squad with 17 Olympic-eligible players.

A crowd of 67,619 watched the Brazilians end a five-match win streak for the Americans, who enjoyed a 1-0 victory over host Italy in February and a 5-1 rout of Scotland last Sunday.

The Brazilians improved to 16-1 all-time against the Americans, winning for the ninth time in a row since suffering their only defeat in 1998.

The US play their final tune-up match on Monday against Canada in Toronto before beginning their 18-month 2014 World Cup qualifying campaign on June the 8th against Antigua an Barbuda in Florida.