Adu Takes Center Stage

Midfielder Keys Upset of Brazil : United States 2, Brazil 1

OTTAWA, July 6 -- First and foremost, Freddy Adu came to Canada to lead the United States to the championship of the Under-20 World Cup, a youth soccer tournament that for 30 years has helped launch the careers of players from Diego Maradona to Lionel Messi and served as a small stage for undiscovered talent and teams.

But the occasion also has presented Adu, 18, with an opportunity to prove to a skeptical international audience that he is more than an oversold American marketing creation. It has given him a chance to revitalize a career that began four years ago with wild expectations -- U.S. Coach Thomas Rongen described them as "inhumane" -- and stalled amid inconsistency and turmoil with D.C. United before withering on a terrible team in Salt Lake City this summer.

Here, among his peers and far from the off-field demands of an emerging league, Adu has again drawn the sport's attention.

Three days after recording the tournament's only hat trick, Adu set up both of Jozy Altidore's goals, including the game-winner in the 81st minute on a spectacular sequence, as the Americans executed a 2-1 upset of Brazil on Friday night before a capacity crowd of 26,500 at Frank Clair Stadium.

It was the first time a U.S. men's team had beaten Brazil in a FIFA tournament since the 1989 under-17 world championship. By virtue, the Americans (2-0-1) will play a third-place team to be determined in the round of 16 on Wednesday in Toronto.

"It's been a long time since I felt this way, to be honest with you," Adu said. "It's been a long road, it's been a long time coming, but it's a great feeling. I have taken this whole mentality of: 'Hey, soccer is fun. Just have fun. Don't worry about what anybody says, don't worry about trying to get a European contract.'

"When I'm having fun, that's when I play my best."

The Americans went ahead in the 25th minute. Altidore (New York Red Bulls) pounced on a stray ball created by team captain Adu's challenge and struck a low, 19-yard shot past goalkeeper Cassio.

Adu, exhibiting spirit and confidence often absent from his MLS repertoire, set up Altidore early in the second half with a cheeky back-heel pass, but the shot skipped wide. Brazil tied the game in the 64th when former Maryland goalkeeper Chris Seitz stopped Renato Augusto's volley for one of several excellent saves, but couldn't cover the rebound and Leandro Lima touched it in.

But late in the match, after relentless Brazilian pressure, Adu put on a phenomenal dribbling display along the end line and drove a ball that was deflected to Altidore for a solid finish.

"He's a special player and he does special things," Altidore said of Adu.

On the buildup to the goal, "I was caught in between minds," Adu said. "I was thinking shoot, pass, shoot, pass, but I just hit it as hard as I can across the mouth of the goal and thankfully it landed at Jozy's feet and he buried it."

Adu and the Americans arrived here from Montreal, where both the player and the team experienced varied results. In the opener against South Korea, the teenager struggled to find his form and, although he did assist on the goal, the U.S. team was fortunate to escape with a 1-1 tie.

Against Poland, Adu set the tone and then offered one of those magical moments that has been all too fleeting during his MLS career. He beat a defender to the penalty area, but instead of attacking the net, he cleverly turned from pressure toward the top of the box and, with a fluid stroke, curled a left-footed shot into the far side for the first of three goals during a 6-1 victory. He became the first player in FIFA history to record a hat trick in both world youth tournaments. In 2003, at the under-17 championship, he scored three times in a 6-1 victory against South Korea.

Despite his age, Adu is no longer so young in the eyes of big European clubs. He became eligible to play professionally in Europe last month and has expressed his desire to leave MLS and head overseas by this winter, but with his MLS career unsettled, it became imperative to make an impression here.

"He was ready to take a huge role in this team and I can't be happier about the way he has dealt with these hard circumstances," Rongen said. "Outside the skill, he showed the desire and heart that any great player needs to have to succeed at the highest level. Just a great game by Freddy and taking the rest of the team with him today, which is great to see."

Rongen has put him in a position to succeed: central midfield, a role Adu has coveted but failed to secure in MLS because of an inability to hold the ball under pressure and escape danger. Instead, he has played primarily wide left for United and now Real Salt Lake.

Uncomfortable in United's system, he thought he would fit into the playmaker's job under Real coach John Ellinger, his under-17 national team guide. He ended up on the wing anyway, and Ellinger was later fired. In fairness, Adu has done some nice things in the run of play and evolved as a player. But frustration has also resurfaced -- in a nationally televised game, he raised his arms in protest when not given the ball in open space -- and he has only a penalty kick and a pair of assists.

When this tournament concludes, he will return to Real, hopeful he has displayed the sophistication, elegance and promise to finally make the leap to Europe. For now, he will enjoy a historic night for U.S. soccer.

"When I look back on this someday," he said, "I can say, 'Hey, that was a great achievement and I am proud of that.' "