NOT ENOUGH: Brazil beats USWNT, 2-1

Sophia Wilson scored her first USWNT goal since October 2024. (Imagn Images)

SAO PAOLO – The U.S. women’s national team fell 2-1 to Brazil in the first of two matches in against the 2027 Women’s World Cup hosts on Saturday night.

In the second minute, forward Sophia Wilson scored her 25th international goal, becoming the ninth mother to score for the USWNT, but Brazil quickly responded and held the lead despite a dominating second half from the United States. Brazil earned its second-consecutive and fifth overall win against the USA.

A loud and enthusiast crowd of more than 31,000 Brazilian fans pushed its team from the opening whistle in what was the first match between the two countries in Brazil since 2014. As U.S. head coach Emma Hayes predicted, it was a chaotic, chippy and highly aggressive affair with at least four stoppages due to apparent injuries to Brazilian goalkeeper Lelê, who eventuallly left the game in the 81st minute.

The Americans opened the scoring after only 96 seconds when forward Trinity Rodman forced a turnover in Brazil’s defensive third. Wilson collected the loose ball and took a few touches towards the middle of the field before curving a shot on the ground from outside the box into the bottom left corner. The goal was Wilson’s first for the USWNT since Oct. 24, 2024.

The lead, however, was short-lived.

The visitors struggled to maintain control of the game early on due Brazil’s aggressive style of play and the USA uncharacteristically gave up two goals in quick succession, with Brazil equalizing in the 11th minute.

Defender Isabela received the ball from a throw-in near the endline and lofted a cross inside the box to Tainá Maranhão, who headed the ball into the right side of the net past U.S. goalkeeper Mandy McGlynn. The home side scored what would be the game-winner just three minutes later after the USA failed to slow a Brazil counter attack and Bia Zaneratto played a give-and-go inside the penalty box with fellow forward Dudinha before placing a low shot into the left corner of the goal.

Midfielder Lily Yohannes nearly evened the scoreline in the 28th minute after the USA earned a free kick just outside the box on the right side, but her shot dipped low and wide of the near post. Wilson also had a breakaway thwarted when she let the ball run a bit too far ahead of her and Lele was able to get a piece of the ball. Wilson got it back and tried to hit a wide-open Alyssa Thompson in the middle, the Brazilian goalkeeper did well to get a piece of cross and jumped on it.

On the other side of halftime, midfielder Claire Hutton’s long-range strike forced Brazilian goalkeeper Lele to fully extend and push the shot off the crossbar for one of the USA’s seven corner kicks of the night. The USA would eventually outshoot Brazil, 11-9, but despite creating numerous dangerous situations in the attacking third, the USA’s quality in the penalty area was lacking. The U.S. put three shots on goal.

The USA tilted the field in its favor in the second half, dominating the final 45 minutes plus eight minutes of stoppage time as Brazil fought hard to hang on, but the USA could not create a goal despite finding space down the wings and buzzing around Brazil’s penalty area. The USA also had a penalty shout turned down when a Brazilian defender cleared the ball off the arm of her teammate, but the VAR said no penalty.

Near the end of regulation, midfielder Rose Lavelle, who came on in the 79th minute, played a square pass from the left flank inside the penalty area to halftime substitute Michelle Cooper, but her shot was blocked. A few other services into the penalty were well-cleared by the Brazilians.

The USWNT heads to Fortaleza to face Brazil again on June 9 at Arena Castelão (8:30 p.m. ET on TNT, HBO Max and Peacock).