Brazil vs USA
Time: 19:30 UK
Date: Sunday, June 28, 2009
Live USA vs Brazil
Stage: Final
Confederations Cup 2009
Venue: Ellis Park
There's nothing like a big win to get the fans back home excited, and the U.S. team's upset of top-ranked Spain at the Confederations Cup on Wednesday night certainly qualified. The game was replayed on ESPN2 a few hours later, an honor reserved for "instant classics," and the Chicago Tribune ran a banner listing the top five U.S. upsets across the top of Thursday's sports page.
Even the snarky New York Post gave the team a shoutout -- "SOCCER SHOCKER!" -- on its back page. "This win is huge for American soccer," said Clint Dempsey, whose second-half goal sealed the 2-0 victory and brought a screeching halt to Spain's record 15-game winning streak. "I'm excited about the result, and think all the fans back at home will be excited as well."
The American men, who play Brazil on Sunday in their first-ever FIFA final, took the day off from training Thursday, traveling to Johahnnesburg. U.S. interest in the world's favorite game has been building slowly, and a surprise run to the
quarterfinals of the 2002 World Cup had Americans dreaming of the day when their team would equal the likes of Brazil, Italy, Germany, Argentina, England and Spain. Substitute Daniel Alves broke South African hearts with an 87th-minute free-kick for Brazil that dumped the hosts out of the Confederations Cup with a narrow semi-final victory in Johannesburg. The Barcelona right-back, who only came on for the closing stages of the game, smashed in a powerful 18-yard set-piece from the left to stun the huge crowd at the Ellis Park Stadium after
their side had performed impressively for most parts of the game.
However, they eventually fell short and will now meet Spain in the third-place play-off on Sunday, while the Selecao will face the United States in the tournament finale. Bafana Bafana, who can take heart from the display, were handed a massive boost before the start after striker Bernard Parker passed a late fitness test and they looked inspired during the early stages with Steven Pienaar and Teko Modise bossing the midfield.
However, it was Luis Fabiano that created the first opening after 13 minutes when he fired a low shot from inside the box that forced Itumeleng Khune to dive low to his left. The hosts responded with Siboniso Gaxa beating Andre Santos to a 50-50 ball on the right and then unleashing a 20-yard cross-goal shot that flew agonisingly across the face of goal. They continued to hold their own with Aaron Mokoena then missing a gilt-edge chance in the 21st minute - the South Africa captain received a beautifully floated free-kick from Modise on the right, but put the close-range header over.
