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Confederations Cup 2009
South Africa

Semi Final
24 June 2009

America shock the world
(USA 2 Spain 0)
USA ended Spain's 35-match unbeaten run to reach the final of the Confederations Cup. The Americans took a shock lead in the 27th minute when Jozy Altidore outmuscled Capdevila and knocked the ball past Casillas who had started to go the wrong way and could only push it in off the post. The Spaniards bombarded the USA goal in second half, but some resolute defending and good goalkeeping meant there was no change in the score-line until Landon Donovan got into the box and drilled a low cross into the 6 yard area which Spain failed to deal with, giving the opportunist Dempsey the chance to poke the ball over the line in the 74th minute. Michael Bradley will miss the final after seeing red for an 86th minute challenge on Xavi.

clint dempsey
Clint Dempsey pokes in the second
Semi Final
25 June 2009

Patient Brazil overcome passionate hosts
(South Africa 0 Brazil 1)
South Africa battled bravely for a place in the final but had their hearts broken 2 minutes from time. The hosts created their fair share of chances with Mokoena getting behind the defence but heading over in the 21st minute and Modise seeing his deflected shot palmed round the post by Julio Cesar in the second half. With only 2 minutes remaining Daniel Alves curled a stupendous free-kick past the diving Khune to silence the vuvuzelas and send Brazil to the final where they will meet the USA.

Danny Alves
Danny Alves curles free-kick past Khune
Third place play-off
28 June 2009

Spain win the late show
(South Africa 2 Spain 3) after extra time
Xabi Alonso scored in extra-time to give Spain victory over hosts South Africa in the Confederations Cup third-place play-off. Khune was at full stretch diving to his left to palm away a curling shot by Villa in the 4th minute, but was not tested until the 62nd minute when he got down quickly to keep out Riera's shot after a one-two in the box with Guiza. The match was beginning to come to life with Spain looking more likely to score, but in the 74th minute Tshabalala delivered a ball into the box for Mphela to cushion with his knee and smash past Casillas giving South Africa the lead. Two minutes from full-time Santi Cazorla passed the ball to Daniel Guiza who turned it past Khune into the bottom left corner, and barely a minute later Guiza crossed the ball over the head of Khune and in off the upright to stun the home crowd, but deep into stoppage time Mphela lashed a superb free-kick into the top corner to send the home supporters into delirium and the match into extra time. In the 107th minute Alonso curled a free-kick into the box beating attackers and defenders alike to deceive Khune and find the back of the net giving Spain 3rd place in the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Katlego Mphela
Katlego Mphela smashes the ball past Casillas
Final
28 June 2009

Brazil end the American dream
(Brazil 3 USA 2)
Brazil came from 2 goals down to win the Confederations Cup with 3 goals in the 2nd half against the USA. Clint Dempsey helped a Jonathan Spector cross past Julio Cesar in the 10th minute, and when Charlie Davies raced towards goal on the counter-attack and passed the ball to Landon Donavan, the American striker beat his marker with one swift move and dispatched the ball into the bottom corner to make another shock result a distinct possibility, but Brazil came out in the 2nd half with all guns blazing, and within a minute Luis Fabiano had turned the ball past Tim Howard to reduce the deficit. Brazil were unlucky not to be level on the hour-mark when Howard pushed a downward header by Kaka onto the underside of the bar from what looked to be behind the goal line, but in the 74th minute Kaka ran down the left side and fed Robinho whose shot came off the underside of the bar for Luis Fabiano to nod past the despairing Howard. With 6 minutes remaining Brazilian captain, Lucio, rose to meet a corner-kick with a decisive header which he steered in off the upright to give Brazil the 2009 Confederations Cup.

Lucio
Lucio header wins the final for Brazil

Go to Confederations Cup index