Brazil Overcome Portugal 3-1 in Massachusetts

Photo: Kari Heistad

Brazil 3 : 1 Portugal

by Brian O’Connell, New England Soccer Today

It may not have been the Maracana, but Brazil certainly made themselves at home on Tuesday at Gillette Stadium.

Raul Meireles put Portugal on the board early, but Brazil responded with three unanswered goals en route to a 3-1 win before 62,310 fans, many of whom came out in droves to support the canary-clad footballers.

Meireles opened the scoring in the 18th minute to give the pro-Portugal partisans reason to cheer. But Brazil came back with a trio of goals from Thiago Silva (23′), Neymar (35′) and (49′). Neymar went 89 minutes before coming off the pitch to a standing ovation.

Portugal was without Cristiano Ronaldo, who scored three goals in last week’s 4-2 win over Northern Ireland, due to injury. And without him, A Selecção struggled to find opportunities inside the final third all night.

Photo: Kari Heistad

Nevertheless, they managed to get on the board early when Meireles ripped away an errant backpass and beat Julio Cesar before a stunned Brazil backline in the 18th minute.

But Brazil quickly regrouped and leveled it only five minutes later when Neymar sent a corner that curled right to Silva, who elevated over Portugal’s defenders and glanced it through.

Neymar, who used his speed and dribbling abilities to antagonize Portugal’s midfielders and defenders, scribbled his name on the scoresheet with halftime approaching. Taking the ball near center circle, he sliced through three defenders before breaking into the box and slotting it past Rui Patricio.

Brazil put the game away shortly after the interval when Maxwell raced along the left, then cut toward the near post before slipping it under a pair of defenders, who could do nothing when Jo arrived to tap it through just before the 50th minute.

Portugal looked toward Nani and Helder Postiga to find a way to close the gap. But with Brazil dropping numbers, Portugal only found walls of yellow shirts and frustration. In fact, Julio Cesar could barely be bothered for much of the second frame as Brazil cruised to the victory.

Share and Enjoy !

Shares
Steve Clare

Recent Posts

A tough test at home for the Portland Timbers in the Wildcard match against RSL

(8) Portland Timbers vs (9) Real Salt Lake Wednesday, October 22, 2025 KO 7:30 PM…

11 hours ago

New England Revolution 2025 End of Season Review

FOXBOROUGH, MA– New England Revolution have completed the 2025 MLS Season with a record of…

1 day ago

San Diego wins the top of West in memorable inaugural MLS season

It was a busy day in Portland, the “No Kings March” that had gathered earlier…

1 day ago

Angel City honors Press and Riley in final home match

For its last home match of the 2025 season, it was all about honoring its…

3 days ago

Gotham draw drops them to seventh

Gotham FC 2-2 Racing Louisville HARRISON, NJ--The good news is that Gotham FC will be…

3 days ago