Four days after perhaps its best ever result, the American men's national team pushed the envelope of what a supreme effort and a dash of luck could accomplish.

Two goals up in its first FIFA men's final, this team's meteoric rise finally ran out of momentum, unable to overcome the unquestioned superior skill of a second straight powerhouse.

Though they are surely bitter over their blown lead, there is no shame in being edged by Brazil in this manner; the tears of joy in captain Lúcio's eyes at the final whistle leave no doubt over the Brazilians' effort and commitment in this victory.

The Americans' runner-up finish at the Confederations Cup certainly came with some degree of good fortune: Charlie Davies' scrambled opener against Egypt banked in off the keeper's hands with no angle available, while both goals against Spain rode on a favorable bounce.

But nothing about the last U.S. goal of the tournament can be written off.

Landon Donovan started a counterattack following a Brazil corner kick, sending a lead pass down the left wing for Davies just before he reached the center circle. Davies ran it down and delivered a first-touch return ball for Donovan at the top of the area.

Donovan's first touch wrong-footed the lone defender, giving him time to line up and drill a shot across Júlio César into the far corner.

In inflicting on Brazil the same kind of incisive counterattack that the Brazilians had torched the Americans with 10 days earlier, the U.S. men summed up their growth over the course of their stay in South Africa.

And with those four touches, Donovan and Davies created and converted a chance that decades of U.S. teams have squandered, showing the world that we do indeed have the skill required at the highest level.

Last goal shows that we have what it takes