U20 WC: US shocks Brazil 2-1

Ottawa:

Jozy Altidore scored a goal in each half and gave the United States a 2-1 victory over Brazil on Friday, sending the Americans to the second round of the Under-20 World Cup and possibly eliminating the four-time champion.

The New York Red Bulls forward put the United States ahead in the 12th minute and, after Leandro Lima tied the match in the 64th, converted off a deflection in the 81st to finish the Americans atop Group D with seven points.

The US moves on to the round-of-16 and will face a third-place team from one of the other groups in Toronto on Wednesday.

The result left Brazil - which also lost to Poland in its opener - with just three points and hoping to secure one of four berths reserved for third-place teams.

With thousands in the capacity crowd of 26,500 dressed in the famous yellow of the Canarinhos - dancing to the beating of drums and chanting "Bra-sil, Bra-sil," the Americans faced a partisan atmosphere at Frank Clair Stadium.

Brazil played the match with Benfica David Marinho, who received a four-match ban earlier in the day for an elbow on South Korea's Shin Young-rok in Tuesday's match that sent the Korean to the hospital.

Both teams had chances early, but it was the US that capitalised first when Altidore dispossessed Renato Augusto at midfield.

While the Brazilian fell looking for a whistle from Spanish refereee Alberto Undiano Mallenco, Altidore dribbled to the edge of the penalty area and fired a low, angled drive that eluded keeper Cassio.

Brazil became energized in the second half, and Alexandre Pato threatened when he broke in behind the US back four, but his attempt to chip nestled into the side netting.

Instead, the Brazilians settled for brute force for the equalizer.

US goalkeeper Chris Seitz couldn't hang on to Augusto's hard volley from the top of the penalty area and before the Real Salt Lake keeper could smother the rebound, Lima outmuscled a defender and poked it across the goal line.

But just when it looked like Brazil had done enough, the US cashed in on one of its rare forays into Brazil territory in the second half.

Freddy Adu dribble in from the right and his shot deflected off a defender to the far post, where Altidore scored into an open net.