The unprecedented venue switch for the semi-final was moved from Sao Paulo University to a smaller turf field in the northwest section of the city due to heavy rain throughout the holiday weekend. More than 4 inches of precipitation battered the metropolis for the majority of New Year's Eve and into New Year's Day, yet despite the change in venue, neither team seemed to be affected by the compact dimensions of the synthetic surface which played slow in some areas of the pitch as rain had accumulated on the flanks and touchlines, often slowing the ball to a standstill and making traction a major issue for the players.
After watching the Maccabi USA Junior Boys' Soccer Team upset tournament favorite, Argentina, 4-2 in penalty kicks to advance to the Gold medal match against Brazil, the senior lads took to the pitch in a hurried warm up as the referees were anxious to get the game underway.
Head Coach Keith TABATZNIK elected to begin with a traditional 4-4-2 system of play that featured David BANNICK in goal, David ROSENSTEIN (LB), Pepper BRILL (CB), Doug HOMER (CB) and Joel ZUCKERMAN in the back. Captain Irad YOUNG skippered the midfield along with Chris ARRIGALI (LM), Nir SVERI (DMF) and Matt MILLER (RMF). Hamisi Amani-DOVE and Alan DUBROVO held shape up top as the team's strike force.
The first half of the game was spirited and full of crisp passing from both national teams. Brazil elected to attack in a 4-2-3-1 formation that the Americans had seen in their 2-1 round-robin loss to the golden canaries. The post-match analysis compiled by Tabatznik following the game allowed the team to focus on Brazil's ability to spread the pitch and open up passing lanes between the U.S. defense followed by second and third-man runs that Brazil's #9 "David" marshaled with success in the first round. However, this match proved to be far more difficult for the host country as the Americans often had eight defenders behind the ball with additional pressure coming from forwards Dove and Dubrovo, respectively.
The U.S. was forced to adjust to changes in the XI as centre back Pepper Brill was lost to injury in the 16th minute when he was suffered a contusion to his knee and high ankle sprain during a harsh challenge with Brazil's #19 in front of the American goal. Adrian MINOR replaced Brill and made key several tackles and interceptions throughout his time on the pitch.
Brazil opened the scoring late in the first half as they were able to penetrate from the left side of midfield and locate space between the U.S. back four, which had held strong on numerous direct attacks from the hosts over the course of 33 minutes. Unfortunately, Brazil's second forward, #11, eluded his defender and struck a low and hard shot to the near post that caromed off of 'keeper David BANNICK and into the net for a one-nil lead.
Despite the disappointment, the U.S. kept its composure and finished the first half with purpose as the centre official whistled for 40 minutes under a damp rain that steadied under overcast skies. Coach Tabatznik made it clear to his team that continuous pressure from the forwards back was a major factor in how the U.S. found space in and towards the middle and last thirds of the field. The emphasis was to generate more quality chances at goal and drive balls behind the Brazilian defense as fast as possible, particularly with the field conditions bound to deteriorate under heavy rain in the second half.
As the red, white and blue re-emerged for the second half, Tabatznik inserted several fresh faces into the lineup: Adam MUCHNICK for Matt MILLER, Eric EXELBERT for Alan DUBROVO and David ROSENSTEIN was moved inside for Adrian MINOR at centre back.
Both teams traded chances at goal but could not break down the resolve of steely defending which proved to be the theme of the match for the Americans. Fortunately, pressure broke late in the second half for the U.S. as forward Hamisi Amani-DOVE (four goals in four matches) slid a short, four-yard ball past a helpless Brazilian 'keeper to even the match at one. The goal came against the run of play and could easily be characterized as a testament to the team's collective focus on creating and finishing chances.
With the tension mounting for both teams, the Brazilians earned a questionable penalty kick in the 71st minute when the referee felt that one of the Brazilian attackers was deliberately brought down as he penetrated towards Bannick's goal from an acute angle to the right of the near post. Up stepped #11 to convert the penalty for Brazil but his strike caromed off of the left post and was cleared by a U.S. defender to extend the tie until the 80th minute.
With that, the match entered the first of (2), fifteen-minute overtime periods. While the pace slowed on both ends, the physical challenges increased on the defending end. Brazil was able to find space from the right side towards the near post and scored off of a re-direct goal in 100th minute. The Americans equalized ably in the 106th minute off the foot of Eric Exelbert who turned at the 18-yard line and whistled a low, bending ball into the right corner of the net past a helpless Brazilian 'keeper. It was Exelbert's first career goal in a Maccabi USA jersey and perhaps the 'goal' of the game. Unfortunately, the hosts came right back to score the game-winning goal ini the 108th minute when #11 took a pass from #9 to the right of 'keeper Bannick, and fired a one-time strike to the far post that whistled past the Beverly Hills resident despite his outstretched effort.
Following the goal, the match deteriorated to the point of absurdity as the centre official issued a yellow then straight red card to U.S. attacker Hamisi Amani-DOVE for an apparent physical altercation with one of the Brazilian players who defended Amani-Dove throughout the match and added extra time periods. Dove, captain Irad YOUNG and midfielder Nir SVERI were also booked for dissent along with several other Brazilian players as the time wasted by the fracas was never added on by the centre official despite Young's many pleas.
When the final whistle sounded, everyone in red-white-blue was literally gutted by the result and poor state of officiating done by the referees throughout the semi-final.
"Sportsmanship, fair play and respect for the laws of the game went out the window as soon as Brazil scored, " said skipper Irad Young. "This goes against the spirit of soccer as well as what these Games represent."
