Brazil 4, U.S. 0
And it was just about that one-sided. The U.S. was two goals down within 27 minutes, the first one a demoralizing own-goal by midfielder Leslie Osborne. Then they went a player down just before halftime, when Shannon Boxx was sent off for a questionable second yellow card. And the entire second half was a Brazilian exhibition, mostly showcasing Marta, the FIFA player of the year, who literally ran circles around more than one U.S. defender, did little dances over and with the ball, and, oh, yeah, scored twice and set up another one.
Her first goal was highlight-reel stuff; her second, the final nail in the U.S. coffin, was one of the most gorgeous plays I’ve seen on a pitch – the kind of thing that makes me think of Eduardo Galeano:
“Years have gone by and I’ve finally learned to accept myself for who I am: a beggar for good soccer. I go about the world, hand outstretched, and in the stadiums I plead: “A pretty move, for the love of God.”
And when good soccer happens, I give thanks for the miracle and I don’t give a damn which team or country performs it.”
– Eduardo Galeano, Soccer in Sun and Shadow
The final is Germany-Brazil, this Sunday, 7am Central.
The U.S. plays Norway in the third-place game, 4am Sunday.
This article appears in September 21 • 2007.