After a well deserved come back, Brazil are now the confederations’ cup champions 2009. A Seleção went into this game as firm favourites to lift the cup after some dominating performances in their previous matches, especially their 3-0 demolition of the US in their opening game of the tournament. The US on the other hand knew that they had a remarkable task on their hands. After qualifying for the knockout stages after only accumulating a measly 3 points in the group stages after 3 games (an incredible amount of luck), they then went from strength to strength beating Spain (FIFA’s #1 ranked team) 2-0.
During the match, under a constant bombardment from the Brazilian team, the US struck on two very clinically finished counter attacks. To me the US did extremely well not to concede in the first half of that match. Howard was great in goal, constantly thwarting the Brazilian menace from getting on the score sheet. The understanding that he showed with Onyewu in the first half was incredible.
As Trinis love to say, ‘Pressure does buss pipe’. At the start of the second half the comeback was on, with only 40 seconds gone in the half Luis Fabiano scored and the figurative flood gates opened. The once stubborn us defence looked shaken and could not recover. The introduction of Elano on the right injected that bit of class that Ramires lacked. The Brazilians were deserved winners on a night that few expected otherwise, but also a night when the Americans stated their intentions for 2010 world cup to be held in South Africa. Congratulations to Brazil and all the Brazilian fans out there, and to the US national team for their apparent inability to roll over and accept their underdog status.
Spain claimed third spot in an equally entertaining affair in Rustenburg at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. The game ended 3-2 in favour of Spain, but the South Africans put up a remarkable showing with two remarkable goals from their talisman Katlego Mphela (one to watch next year).
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