Neymar shines in Brazil friendly win over US

Maryland: Neymar scored a goal and was involved in two others as Brazil beat the United States 4-1 in an international friendly on Wednesday night.

The 20-year-old Santos star kicked a penalty to put Brazil ahead in the 12th minute after a hand ball by Oguchi Onyewu and then, 14 minutes later, took a corner kick which Thiago Silva headed in for his first international goal.

Herculez Gomez reduced the margin just before halftime, to the delight of the 67,619-strong crowd at FedEx Field.

But Marcelo restored the two-goal lead in the 52nd, scoring from in front after being left unmarked by Onyewu and U.S. captain Carlos Bocanegra, and second-half substitute Alexandre Pato made it 4-1 with his goal in 87th.

The 29th-ranked Americans, coming off a 5-1 win over Scotland last weekend, had difficulty coping with the pace of the five-time World Cup champions.

Coach Jurgen Klinsmann continued to tinker with his forward line because Jozy Altidore didn't arrive until Monday, and Clint Dempsey is recovering from a groin strain. Dempsey entered in the 57th minute, marking the first time he played with Landon Donovan since Klinsmann replaced Bob Bradley as coach last July.

After winning just one of their first six matches under Klinsmann, the Americans had won five in a row, including an impressive 1-0 victory at Italy. But the time for experimenting under the former German national team star and coach is nearing an end. US play at Canada on Sunday, then open qualifying for the 2014 World Cup on June 8 against Antigua and Barbuda.

That opponent, of course, doesn't resemble sixth-ranked Brazil in any way.

Brazil, who receive an automatic berth as the 2014 World Cup host, improved to 16-1 against US with a 35-11 goal difference. The Selecao used a young squad as they prepare for the Olympics, which is limited to players under 23 plus three older players.

Neymar scored against US in his national team debut two years ago. He took the penalty kick Wednesday after the hand ball call on Leandro Damiao's shot went off Onyewu. American goalkeeper Tim Howard dived to his right but Neymar sent the ball the other way for his ninth international goal.