International Friendlies: Ox-inspired England hit back in style to earn draw in Brazil, Keane celebrates cap record with double against 10-man Georgia

BRAZIL 2 2 ENGLAND

England earned a famous 2-2 friendly draw with Brazil in Rio de Janeiro courtesy of superb goals from Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Wayne Rooney.











Roy Hodgson's side were forced to rely on the outstanding Manchester City goalkeeper Joe Hart to keep them alive in the contest at the first public airing of the rebuilt Maracana ahead of this month's Confederations Cup and next year's World Cup finals in Brazil.



Hart was powerless to prevent Brazil from finding the opening goal on 57 when Fred reacted quickest to slam a rebound into the net after Hernanes had slammed a shot from distance against the bar.





England restored parity 10 minutes later when Oxlade-Chamberlain drilled a low shot into the corner of the net from Rooney's lay-off as the large crowd inside the ground were stunned almost to silence.



The band of travelling fans could be heard and were given more reason to celebrate when Rooney finished off a fine counter-attacking move involving James MIlner to send an effort spinning into the net via the frame of Fernando that left Julio Cesar with no chance.





Brazil earned a deserved draw when Paulinho drove a volley into the corner of the net from Lucas Moura's cross, but the result will not overly concern manager Hodgson, whose side improved the longer the night went on.

IRELAND 4 0 GEORGIA



Robbie Keane marked his record-equalling 125th appearance for the Republic of Ireland with a double to see off 10-man Georgia 4-0.

The 32-year-old climbed off the bench to draw level with keeper Shay Given and will go top of the list if, as expected, he leads Ireland into World Cup qualifier battle with the Faroe Islands on Friday evening.



Keane claimed his 55th international goal from point-blank range with 13 minutes of the game remaining and then took his tally to 56 three minutes from time to seal a comfortable victory with the Georgians labouring after keeper Giorgi Loria's 20th-minute dismissal.

U.S.A 4 3 GERMANY



The Americans, celebrating the centenary of the U.S. Soccer Federation, had grabbed the lead in the 13th minute thanks to a powerful volley from Jozy Altidore, his first goal for the national side since November 2011.



Four minutes later, the advantage was doubled via an appalling error by German keeper Marc-Andre ter Stegen, who somehow allowed a routine back pass from Benedikt Hoewedes slip off his foot into the net.



Germany rebounded strongly after the half-time break, pulling one back in the 51st minute when Heiko Westermann, allowed to get free by Omar Gonzalez, powered in a header from a Max Kruse corner.

Two superbly finished goals from Dempsey, the second a beautiful curling effort from 25 yards, gave the U.S. a three-goal lead, to the delight of the 47,359 crowd, before the Germans began to pile on the pressure.

Kruse was given time to turn and shoot on the edge of the area in the 78th minute before Julian Draxler scored three minutes later.



But the U.S. held on for a morale boosting win after their 4-2 loss to Belgium in Cleveland on Wednesday ahead of three World Cup qualifiers, starting with Jamaica in Kingston on Friday.