Confederations Cup: Spanish stars fail to earn their stripes

ESP 0-2 USA

USA have continiued their remarkable turnaround in the Confederations Cup with a 2-0 victory over European champions Spain in the Semi-Final in Bloemfontein.

Jozy Altidore, who plays for Villarreal in Spain, broke the deadlock on 27 minutes when he turned Capdevila and beat Iker Casillas from 15 yards.

Fulham’s Clint Dempsey then doubled the lead on 74 minutes when he converted Landon Donovan’s pass from close range.

The defeat in South Africa ended Spain’s world record of 15 straight wins and their 35-match unbeaten run.

The result was marred by the sending-off of midfielder Michael Bradley (the coach’s son), who will miss the final, but otherwise it was an epic result that may have a big impact on American attitudes towards ‘soccer’.

“It’s exciting, a great team effort. To beat an amazing team like Spain and make the final, it’s big,” said US coach Bob Bradley. “We played as hard as we could and that’s what it took. Every guy contributed, so it’s a very good feeling.”

USA will be in Sunday’s final against the second Semi-Final winners (Brazil or South Africa), while Spain play in the 3rd-Place Play-Off against the losers of tonights game.