Bebeto brings heartbreak for Stars and Stripes - SUPER SNAP
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| AFP |
Dunga is currently in Massachusetts preparing A Seleção for a friendly against USA – and it is not the first time he has had a leadership role to play against the Americans on their home soil. Rai captained Brazil during the group stage at the 1994 FIFA World Cup USA™, but Carlos Alberto Parreira elected to drop him for the Round of 16 showdown with the hosts and hand the armband to the Stuttgart midfield enforcer.
The South Americans monopolised possession, even after going down to ten men just before half-time. However, a goal-line clearance from Thomas Dooley and some stellar goalkeeping fom Tony Meola preserved the deadlock until the 73rd minute. That is when Romario wriggled through the midfield and fed Bebeto, who coolly slotted home the only goal, as seen in the above picture.
Dunga, who had skippered a squad consisting of Jorginho and Bebeto to glory at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 1983, retained the armband for the remainder of USA 1994, lifting the Trophy in Pasadena’s Rose Bowl. He sported it again at France 1998 and is considered one of his country’s all-time greatest captains alongside Carlos Alberto and Cafu.
Brazil have won 15 and drawn one of their 17 meetings with the Stars and Stripes, and the two sides have served up some thrillers recently. During Dunga’s first spell at the Seleção reins, they came from behind to win 4-2 at Soldier Field before recovering a two-goal deficit to edge the Americans 3-2 in the FIFA Confederations Cup final. Their last encounter ended in a 4-1 Brazilian victory at FedExField, just outside Washington DC in 2012.