U.S. benefits from surprise turn of events
If the 2009 Confederations Cup in South Africa is remembered for anything, it will be for the improbable story that unfolded Sunday.
International soccer can produce surprises, and often does, but the two that it served up were stunning.
The United States, caught up in a firestorm of criticism after performing woefully in 3-1 and 3-0 losses to Italy and Brazil, respectively, needed a six-goal turnaround to avoid being eliminated.
Somehow, some way, the U.S. achieved exactly that.
Behind goals by Charlie Davies, Michael Bradley and Clint Dempsey, it crushed African champion Egypt, 3-0, in front of 23,140 at a half-empty Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg.
At the same time that was going on, Brazil was busy demolishing world champion Italy, 3-0, in front of a sellout crowd of 41,195 at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, thanks to two goals by Luis Fabiano and an own goal by Italy’s Andrea Dossena.
All three goals came in the final eight minutes of the first half and marked the first time in 52 years, when it lost, 6-1, to Yugoslavia in 1957, that Italy surrendered three goals in the first half of a game.
Add Sunday’s results together and it meant a six-goal turnaround.
As a consequence, the U.S. leapfrogged into second place, ahead of Egypt and Italy, on goal difference and will play European champion Spain, the world’s top-ranked team, in the first semifinal Wednesday in Bloemfontein.
Unbeaten and untied Brazil won Group B and will play host South Africa in Thursday’s second semifinal in Johannesburg.
The Spanish, who won Group A, are also unbeaten and untied, and a victory over the U.S. on Wednesday would extend their unbeaten streak to 36 games, breaking Brazil’s world record.
Meanwhile, like the Iraqis and New Zealanders before them, the Italians and the Egyptians are heading home.
It was an extraordinary turn of events. A goal by either Egypt or Italy right up until the final whistle would have put one of them, and not the U.S., into the semifinals. The goal never came.
The American players learned at halftime what was happening in Pretoria.
“When we walked off the field and they told us Italy were down, 3-0, we knew then our chances of going through were realistic,” forward Landon Donovan said.
The U.S. had taken the lead in the 21st minute when Egyptian goalkeeper Essam Al Hadary spilled a shot by Jozy Altidore and then took an accidental knee to the head from defender Ahmed Fathi while Davies scrambled the loose ball into the net.
Bradley made it 2-0 in the 63rd minute, scoring after a give-and-go series of passes with Donovan, and Dempsey smartly headed home the all-important third goal off a long cross from Jonathan Spector in the 71st minute.
The goal ended an eight-game scoring drought for Dempsey and was his 14th in 54 games for the U.S.
“The odds were against us and the chances of us going through were slim,” he said. “All we could control was ourselves.”
Former Chivas USA goalkeeper Brad Guzan, starting in place of Tim Howard, earned the shutout.
Afterward, Egypt, which had shut out Italy, 1-0, in its previous game after giving Brazil a scare in a 4-3 loss, blamed fatigue and the absence of injured striker Mohamed Zidan, who had scored twice against Brazil.
“We knew fatigue would be a factor,” U.S. Coach Bob Bradley said. “Italy is a great team, but you sensed watching Egypt the other night that they put a lot into the game and they looked tired.
“Brazil, on the other hand, are so talented and they looked like they had good rhythm. We thought we had a chance if we did our part.”
Brazil too did its part, and Coach Dunga was elated after the five-time world champion had comprehensively beaten the four-time world champion in their first competitive match since the 1994 World Cup final at the Rose Bowl.
“Our team showed physically, technically, and in all aspects that it was superior to a great team, a team which is the current world champion,” Dunga said.
“I am delighted with the way we played. The longer we stay together, the better we get.”
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Jones reported from Los Angeles.
