Confederations Cup: American Dream, Pharohs Fury, Azzuri feeling blue

ITA 0-3 BRA
USA 3-0 EGY

USA miraculously made it into the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup on Sunday, despite losing their opening two games. This dramatic turn of events eliminated Italy, the World Champions, and Egypt, conquorers of the Azzuri only three days previously.

This opportunity for the Americans came about when a crazy 5 minutes saw Brazil lead Italy 3-0 at the end of the first half, with strikes from Luis Fabiano (37′, 43′), and an own goal from Italian defender Andrea Dossena (45′). This had come after USA had taken the lead against Egypt, thanks to Charlie Davis (22′).

The second half then saw the miracle take form. With just over an hour gone, Michael Bradley scored, giving renewed hope to the North American Champions. But as it stood, Egypt were still going through, until Fulham midfielder Clint Dempsey popped up to score 10 minutes later, to cue wild celebrations from the American faithful. They held on, and somehow were through to the next round.

Brazil were the runaway winners of Group B (with 9 points), but there was very little to choose between the other three teams, who managed one win each (over one another), and were even hard to separate on goal difference (USA -2, ITA -2, EGY -3), with the Americans edging it on goals scored (by 1).

Meanwhile, the day before saw Spain seal their qualification from the less competitive group as winners with a 2-0 triumph over South Africa, with the Bafana Bafana also through, due to Iraq’s failiure to get past New Zealand, a 0-0 draw being the All-Whites first-ever point at a FIFA tournament finals.

IRQ 0-0 NZL
RSA 0-2 ESP

The semi-final line-up is now complete, and are as follows: ESP v USA, BRA v RSA. The games will be played on Wednesday and Thursday respectively, with the 3rd-Place Play-Off and the Final on Sunday.