JOHANNESBURG - For 45 minutes, it was no contest. United States goalkeeper Tim Howard was outplaying Brazil's Julio Cesar, considered by many to be among the world's best.

Then the second half started, and the United States' 2-0 lead turned into a 3-2 loss in yesterday's Confederations Cup final.

Howard was brilliant in the first half, but Brazil's powerful offense staged a relentless assault on him for the entire second half, capping the comeback with Lucio's game-winning goal in the 84th minute.

"I felt like I was on a lot of the game," Howard said. "They created a lot of chances and eventually the dam broke. I can't get my big behind in the way of everything, unfortunately.

"It's amazing how off-balance they put you. You have no idea what they're going to do until they do it, then you react. That's why they are who they are. All of their players are world-class."

Still, Howard beat out the likes of Brazil's keeper, Spain's Iker Casillas and Italy's Gianluigi Buffon for the tournament's best goalkeeper award. He attributed that to the Americans' opponents - Brazil (twice), Spain, Italy and Egypt.

"It was always going to be tough, and I think that may be why I got the goalkeeper trophy," he said. "We faced a lot of shots and a lot of pressure."

Howard put up his hands to block a header from Kaka in the 60th, sending the ball rattling off the crossbar, though Brazil clearly thought the ball had gone in.

"I didn't think so. I haven't seen the replay, but from my feeling, from where I touched it anyway, it didn't feel like it," Howard said. "Honestly, I don't know."

Howard smothered one more shot from Luis Fabiano in the 71st, but the striker notched his second goal three minutes later to even the score at 2-2. Clint Dempsey lost sight of Lucio in the 84th and the defender headed home the winner.

"This one hurts more than most," Howard said. "As a goalkeeper you try to save as many shots as you can and hope that at the end of the night it adds up, and tonight it didn't."