Sophia Wilson announced her comeback to international soccer with an early goal, but Brazil's devastating counterattack in the opening minutes turned Saturday's friendly in Sao Paulo into a costly loss for the Americans.
Wilson, playing her first match for the US national team since 2024 after taking time away to have a daughter, struck in the second minute. She forced a turnover deep in Brazil's half, sprinted to the box, and fired a low drive inside the far post for the quick lead.
The celebration was short-lived. Brazil leveled the match just nine minutes later when the US fell apart defensively on a corner kick. Maranhao rose unchallenged in the middle of the box and headed home the equalizer at the 11th minute. Three minutes after that, Zaneratto capitalized on American miscommunication near the goal line, slipping a left-footed shot past the goalkeeper for the go-ahead goal that would hold up for the 2-1 final.
The defeat marks an inauspicious start to the US women's World Cup cycle as they prepare for the 2027 tournament. The match was part of a two-game series in Brazil, with the Americans attempting to build momentum ahead of their qualification push.
Goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn kept the deficit manageable with three saves in the first half, holding off what could have been a more embarrassing scoreline. The US had moments to respond in the second half. Claire Hutton tested Brazil's keeper with a distance shot near the 60-minute mark, and Jaedyn Shaw had a golden opportunity in stoppage time when a loose ball skipped past her at point-blank range.
Brazil's goalkeeper Lele exited late with a leg injury after making two saves in limited action.
The friendly represented the first time the US had traveled to Brazil for an away match since December 2014, making the loss sting even more for a program accustomed to success in preparation matches ahead of major tournaments.
Author James Rodriguez: "Wilson's impact was real, but the defensive chaos that followed shows this team has serious work to do before the 2027 cycle gets serious."
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