XtraTime Web Desk: A day of interesting results in international football, as both Brazil and Argentina had winning smiles after the 90 minutes.
Brazil 2-0 USA: A youthful US national team went toe to toe with a first-choice Brazil squad on Friday, as the South Americans cruised to a 2-0 win at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, New Jersey.
The friendly, beginning the “Kickoff Series” for the USMNT to begin the cycle for the 2022 World Cup, looked like a mismatch on paper, and to an extent, it proved to be. But the US, still in transition after failing to reach the 2018 World Cup, were up for the game against Brazil, who under manager Tite effectively played a full-strength lineup. In spite of the effort, two miscues led to the home side falling on the night.
Brazil opened the scoring just 11 minutes in, as Douglas Costa played a beautiful cross that was tapped in by Roberto Firmino. The visitors had a chance to double their lead in the 39th minute, but a save from Zack Steffen and some nervy-if-successful defending from the USMNT kept the Brazilians from tallying again.
But the home side wasn’t as fortunate a few minutes later, as Fabinho drew a penalty from Wil Trapp while he slalomed into the box. Neymar converted the subsequent spot kick to make it 2-0 before halftime.
Italy 1-1 Poland: Jorginho converted a 78th-minute penalty as a stuttering Italy earned a 1-1 Nations League draw at home to Poland.
The visitor, beginning life under new boss Jerzy Brzeczek after an underwhelming group-stage exit at the World Cup, went in front five minutes before half-time through Piotr Zielinski.
Chelsea midfielder Jorginho misplaced a pass and was dispossessed in the build-up to that goal but unfurled his skip-step penalty routine to fine effect.
It salvaged a fitful Italy display as Roberto Mancini continues to plot his recovery from one of the football’s grand nations failing to reach Russia 2018.
Argentina 3-0 Guatemala: Giovanni Simeone marked his debut with a goal as a Lionel Messi-less Argentina outclassed Guatemala 3-0 in an international friendly.
Messi was not included as the five-time Ballon d’Or winner and Barcelona superstar reportedly considers his future following Argentina’s tumultuous World Cup campaign, which ended in the last 16.
Jorge Sampaoli lost his job as a result but interim boss Lionel Scaloni fielded a new-look line-up and reaped the benefits, albeit against minnow Guatemala in Los Angeles on Friday.
Debutant Gonzalo Martinez, Giovani Lo Celso and Simeone – the son of Atletico Madrid head coach and former Argentina midfielder Diego – scored their maiden goals in a one-sided first half at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Mauro Icardi and Paolo Dybala were on the bench for Argentina’s first match since its loss to France at the World Cup, with Simeone, Martinez, Exequiel Palacios and goalkeeper Geronimo Rulli making its bows.