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The U.S. men’s national team finished their World Cup warm-up matches against no. 10 Germany in Chicago, Illinois, in front of a raucous crowd on a warm and humid day at Soldier Field. And the Germans took charge immediately off of a free kick in the second minute by defender Joshua Kimmich that found striker Kai Havertz streaking forward for a header that beat American keeper Matt Freese in front of the net.
The U.S. was undeterred and shared possession and chances with the Germans. Then, off a corner that curved into the box and was headed out by German defender Jonathan Tah, American defender Antonee Robinson came up to hit a fabulous left-footed rocket from just beyond the box to just under the top of the net in the 37th to tie the game, 1-1.
U.S. forward Sergino Dest dribbled in for another chance in the 42nd, but his shot went wide as the American pressure continued. The half ended 1-1 and while Germany had 52% of possession, the U.S. had an 11-4 shots edge and owned most of the last 15 minutes.
The second half saw the U.S. on offense, but the Germans took the lead on a Leroy Sane goal in the 57th, taking a pass from Havertsz and moving in the center of the box for a left-footed shot to the far corner past Freese for a 2-1 edge. Both teams started substituting after the hour mark and the U.S. had a couple of good chances from Brenden Aaronson and Tim Weah, but could not score.
Before a good crowd of 63,636, the U.S. ended with 52% of possession and a 16-12 shots edge, but lost its final match before Friday’s World Cup opener in Inglewood, California. It was the ninth straight loss for the U.S. against a European (UEFA) team.
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In Sao Paulo (BRA), the U.S. women played the first of two matches against the Brazilians as warm-ups for the 2027 Women’s World Cup to be held there, and took the lead in the second minute when Sophia Wilson found open space at the top of the Brazilian box, dribbled left and sent a left-footed laser into the far left corner of the goal for a 1-0 lead.
But the home team, with plenty of crowd support, got even in the 11th on a cross-field pass from near the sideline from defender Isabela Chagas to forward Taina Maranhao, who pounded a shot to her left that found the U.S. net easily for the 1-1 tie.
Just three minutes later, a shot in the U.S. box by striker Dudinha was deflected and came to forward Bia Zaneratto, who slammed a right-foot shot into the left corner of the American goal and past keeper Mandy McGlynn for the 2-1 lead.
That’s how the half ended, with the U.S. with 52% possession, but Brazil piling up eight shots to three for the Americans.
The U.S. applied relentless pressure in the second half as the match became more and more physical, but could not score. McGlynn saved a possible third Brazilian goal on a breakaway shot by substitute forward Giovana by tipping it and catching it at 90+1 to keep the final at 2-1. The U.S. ended with 56% of possession and both sides had 11 shots.
A second friendly comes Tuesday in Fortaleza.
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