Spain 0 x 2 USA - Fifa Confederations Cup South Africa 2009 Espanha 0 x 2 Estados Unidos

Estados Unidos EUA 2 Espanha 0 24 06 2009 Fifa Confederations Cup

USA vs Spain 2-0 Goals Highlights [Confederations Cup 2009] - 24.06.09

http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/index.html * Jozy ALTIDORE (27') * Clint DEMPSEY (74')

USA caused another sensation at the FIFA Confederations Cup South Africa 2009, beating European champions Spain 2-0 to book a place in their first-ever world final. The Spaniards controlled possession at Bloemfontein's Free State Stadium, but the USA, losers of their first two games here in South Africa, played a brave and spirited 90 minutes in freezing temperatures, pulling off a historic victory with goals in each half from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey.

Bob Bradley's side made a lively start to proceedings, surging into attack early against their illustrious adversaries. Young Charlie Davies, rewarded with a second straight start by the coach in attack, was causing havoc at the Spanish back. His audacious overhead volley nearly caught out Iker Casillas before bouncing wide in the seventh minute. Carlos Bocanegra, back in the team and wearing the captain's armband for the first time at these finals, went close shortly after with his head and Dempsey tried his luck from distance.

After a slow start, though, the European champions began to assert themselves and take control of possession, Barcelona creator Xavi leading the way. Cesc Fabregas saw his shot in the 12th minute fly over the bar, while Fernando Torres and David Villa both went close to opening the scoring.

Despite Spain's superior technique and pedigree, the ambitious, almost insolent, North Americans stole in and took the lead. After a lovely bit of interplay between Dempsey and Davies, Altidore shook off his former Villarreal team-mate Joan Capdevila to meet a fine through ball and slam home from 18 yards. Casillas got a palm to it, but the Real Madrid goalkeeper simply could not deal with the power in the strike.

The Spaniards continued to dictate the pattern as the half wore on. As the men in red chased their equaliser, Liverpool striker Fernando Torres was again denied, this time by a fine kick-save from Tim Howard with just seconds to go in the half.

Spain emerged from the changing rooms with renewed vigour, Villa turned brilliantly in the box after five minutes but Howard again was equal to the effort.

A bit of desperation looked to be creeping into the Spanish attack near the hour-mark. Villa, Torres and the ever-present Xavi were trying to force their way through an increasingly cohesive US rearguard, marshalled by giant centre-back Oguchi Onyewu. Last-ditch tackles and heroic blocks were coming to define the American resistance. Sergio Ramos slammed off the post in the 64th minute as Spain's pressure was beginning to look irresistible. Bradley brought on midfielder Benny Feilhaber for striker Davies, hoping to shore things up with a little under half an hour to go.

Against the run of play, though, it was the Americans, not the Spaniards, who got the crucial goal. Clint Dempsey, fresh off scoring the third goal in the win over Egypt that saw the US through to this semi-final, took advantage of a rare error by Ramos to poke home an opportunistic goal from close range. The celebrations that followed were in perfect accord with the historic nature of the goal, and the eventual 2-0 victory over the reigning European champions and the world's No1ranked team.

The States will now play in their first-ever final at a major international competition, taking on the winner of tomorrow's semi-final between hosts South Africa and runaway favourites Brazil. However, they will line up in the ultimate match without holding midfielder Michael Bradley who was sent off with three minutes remaining for a two-footed lunge.


Ficha técnica:

ESPANHA 0 x 2 EUA
Casillas; Sergio Ramos, Puyol, Piqué e Capdevila; Xabi Alonso, Xavi, Fabregas (Cazorla) e Riera (Mata); Torres e Villa. Howard; Spector, Bocanegra, Onyewu, DeMerit; Dempsey, Bradley, Clark e Donovan; Davies (Feilhaber) e Altidore.
Técnico: Vicente del Bosque. Técnico: Bob Bradley.
Gols: Altidore aos 27 minutos do primeiro tempo. Dempsey aos 29 minutos do segundo tempo.

Cartões amarelos: Altidore e Donovan (EUA); Capdevilla, Piqué (Espanha)

Cartão vermelho: Bradley (EUA)
Estádio: Free Stadium, Bloemfontein (África do Sul). Data: 24/06/2009. Árbitro: Jorge Larrionda (URU). Auxiliares: Mauricio Espinosa (URU) e Pablo Fandino (URU).

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• spain
• usa
• copa
• das
• confederacoes
• 2009

[vickhater]

How did we win by accident, that has to be the dumbest post ever. We won 2 to 0. How is that an accident. We won because we were better on that day. We defended our goal like monsters and took advantage of our chances to score. I hate when idiots like you cannot give us credit for our play just because we are Americans. We are only getting better and I can't wait till we actually take soccer seriously. The world should be afraid of our rapid rise in skill. We are not there yet but we will be.

[FurlogTheGiant]

Serious question for ppl from nations who just love futbol:

If the United States did somehow start winning against the best game after game. If the USA somehow won the world cup, not just the women as they already do, but the men...

What sport would you guys start playing then?

Ofcourse there is no way you all would just continue to play futbol if the USA was big in it, so what would you do? What then would you play?

??????????????????????????????­??

[osiris3yhn]

fuck spain!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[OrlandoB]

And yet the most viewed sport event in the whole fucking universe

[FurlogTheGiant]

@OrlandoB

world cup = empty seats

[OrlandoB]

Unfortunately you're going to die and you would never see the men national team win a World Cup LOL

[chrslbrt]

@duduvissotto Haha, thats SO ironic

[dallastexan19]

you're an idiot dude..we were fucking lucky to win..

[gamercloud]

@FurlogTheGiant If they won a World cup they will need to win more 4 times to Matchs against Brazil.... I agree with you when you say U.S win because they deserve it. But calm down man, don't forget SPAIN never won a WORLD CUP.

[Dani3ltheMani3l]

@wouterdeg "not in your blood." you do realize that america is made up of immigrants from all over the world right?

[guiforster]

@FurlogTheGiant Yeah that if will never happen... If they do win this World cup, Brazil will still be way better... If you guys win 6 times in a row, okay, you are the best ;)