Quick Report: United States 2-3 Brazil

June 29, 2009

Brazil came back from two goals down to beat the United States 3-2 in the final of the 2009 Confederations Cup. The winning goal came from captain Lucio with six minutes to go.

Just ten minutes had been played at Johannesburg’s Ellis Park when the USA took a surprising lead with Clint Dempsey scoring from a Jonathan Spector high pass.

And the Americans celebrated again in minute 27. A counter-attack allowed Landon Donovan to push the ball past keeper Julio Cesar for a very comfortable 2-0 lead.

Right at the start of the second half, Brazil showed that the match was far from over as he received a DeMerit pass and turned around to power the ball past Howard.

The goalkeeper went on to make several saves including a deflection onto the crossbar while Brazilians were convinced the ball had already crossed the line.

But in minute 74, the South American champions did get the equaliser they were looking for. Robinho hit the crossbar but Luis Fabiano stood in the right place to head home in the following chaos.

And the winning goal came ten minutes later, as a right-winged corner was headed home by Brazil captain Lucio to hand his team a 3-2 lead. Based on the performance in the second half, the advantage wasn’t undeserved either.

The Confederations Cup trophy is Brazil’s third in history, after taking it home in 1997 and in 2005, the most recent edition. After France, who won it in 2001 and 2003, Brazil are the second team to successfully defend their title.

Written by: Jonathan Roorda

Tags: 2009 confederations cup, american champions, Brasil, brazil, brazilians, captain Lucio, Clint Dempsey, crossbar, cup trophy, deflection, ellis park, equaliser, France, Goalkeeper, Howard, johannesburg, jonathan spector, julio cesar, landon donovan, lucio, luis fabiano, MLS, second half, six minutes, South American, United States, USA

Iraq stifle South Africa in Confed Cup opener

June 15, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – The 2009 Confederations Cup opened with a goalless stalemate between hosts South Africa and Asian champions Iraq at Ellis Park here on Sunday.

With Group A favourites Spain, in action against minnows New Zealand later on Sunday, expected to steamroll into the semi-finals, the point apiece keeps both teams in the running to join the Euro 2008 winners as group runners-up.

South Africa coach Joel Santana said his Bafana Bafana side had been undone by a combination of missed chances and Iraq’s defensive strategy.

“We had 17 shots on goal, compared to three from Iraq,” the Brazilian remarked.

“After a nervy start we controlled all aspects of the game and could have scored three or four goals. I was surprised at the way they held back in defence.

“Do you know how many minutes we played football in the first half? 32! It wasn’t us stopping the match all the time. They tried to paralyse the game.

“This wasn’t the result we wanted but I don’t think we played badly.”

Iraq’s experienced coach Bora Milutinovic defended his tactics.

“To some the game may have been boring. For me it was one of the highlights of my career, and now we have a point and a chance to qualify for the semi-finals.”

Santana gave a starting place to the nation’s favourite footballer, Teko Modise, who sat out the warm-up win over Poland, with Everton midfielder Steven Pienaar, who had limped off injured in that match, on the bench.

Milutinovic, opting for a five-man backline, had the luxury of fielding a full-strength side captained by striker Younis Mahmoud with the artful Nashat Akram in midfield.

In a cagey first half, one of the rare bright moments came early on when Russia-based midfielder MacBeth Sibaya forced Iraq goalkeeper Mohammed Kassid into an athletic dive to keep out his angled 20-metre attempt from the right.

That effort came minutes after Kassid had safely scooped up Bernard Parker’s shot from outside the box.

Akram, who will be the first Iraqi to play in western Europe after signing for Steve McClaren’s Dutch side FC Twente, had a frustrating time, sending one free-kick over Itumeleng Khune’s bar and another into the South African wall.

South Africa striker Thembinkosi Fanteni picked up a yellow card from Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda after an over-zealous tackle on Iraqi midfielder Karrar Jasim in the opening minutes.

With a quiet or perhaps not-so-quiet word from Santana ringing in their ears, South Africa emerged for the second half with much more urgency, encouraging the home crowd of 48,837 or so which included South Africa President Jacob Zuma.

Dominating play, the hosts had a clear chance in the 69th minute only for Fanteni’s miscued shot to edge wide of Kassid’s right-hand post, the Maccabi Haifa striker banging his head with his fist in frustration.

After Akram received the second booking of the encounter Fanteni was at the centre of the action again, rising above the Iraqi defence to head Siboniso Gaxa’s corner just over the crossbar.

Katlego Mashego then came on for Fanteni and the Orlando Pirates striker quickly found himself with only Kassid to beat in the box, but the Iraqi keeper did well to snuff out the danger.

With five minutes left on the clock, Parker will never know how he failed to tap the ball home when faced with an open goal.

Santana introduced Pienaar in a last-ditch effort to grab the points but to no avail.

South Africa are next up against New Zealand on Wednesday with Iraq facing the Spaniards.

Tags: 17 shots, 2009 confederations cup, backline, bafana bafana, Bernard Parker, Bora, coach bora milutinovic, ellis park, euro 2008, footballer, Iraq, jacob zuma, Joel Santana, johannesburg, Jorge Larrionda, minnows, modise, Mohammed Kassid, nashat akram, New Zealand, Parker, Poland, russia, semi finals, shots on goal, South Africa, south africa coach, stalemate, Steve McClaren, steven pienaar, teko, WC Qualifying South-Africa, western Europe, younis mahmoud

S.Africa offers colourful Confed Cup ceremony

June 14, 2009

JOHANNESBURG (AFP) – The 2009 Confederations Cup officially opened Sunday with an energetic ceremony by hosts South Africa with a giant human flag of 700 school pupils and a showcase of African culture.

Painting themselves in the colours of South Africa’s post-apartheid flag, the pupils formed into a giant formation before painting the tournament’s logo on a giant banner circled by flags from the eight-nation tournament.

The announcement of teams topped off performances from South African jazz legend Hugh Masekela, Yvonne Chaka Chaka, Lebo M of “Lion King” fame, and a procession of peformers representing the entire African continent.

With kick-off at 1400 GMT, the 52,500-seater Ellis Park stadium cremony was met with cheers as fans showed their appreciation by blowing plastic trumpets known as vuvuzelas and loud roars.