Up next, the U.S. faces Spain after all the cards fell and the U.S. defeated Egypt 3-0 coupled with a 3-0 win by Brazil against Italy.
The semifinals take place on Wednesday, broadcast live on ESPN and TeleFutura at 2:25 p.m. ET. If you're stuck at work, follow via ussoccer.com's MatchTracker, or at twitter.com/ussoccer.
The U.S. will at least get two more matches, as there is both a final and third-place match.
Here's how it happened:
USA Goal - Charlie Davies - 21st minute: Scramble in the box goes in.
Brazil Goal - Luis Fabiano - 37th minute: Fabiano beats the trap on a through ball from Maicon.
Brazil Goal - Fabiano - 43rd minute: Goal on the counter attack.
Brazil Goal - Italy own goal - 45th minute: Robinho plays in a low cross and Dossena puts it in his own net.
USA Goal - Michael Bradley - 63rd minute: Great counter attack and Donovan with the assist.
USA Goal - Clint Dempsey - 71st minute: Spector whips in a cross and Dempsey, who was just moved to forward, heads it in.
We'll leave the rest to you for now -- check back later for reaction, photos, and ... if you're lucky ... a photo of a zebra.
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55 comments:
ZEBRA! ZEBRA! ZEBRA!
What happened the past two days?!
YOU MADE YOUR COUNTRY PROUD!!!!
That's all heart, baby. Everyone played really well, especially Onyewu (best game he's ever played). I am really proud of the whole team.
Am I the only one thinking some sort of fix is in? Just saying.
But if not what a miracle pulled off! US players finally showed some effort, and that was one of Donovan's best games as an international. He is still greatly overrated and not this team's savior.
Dempsey played like crap but stepped up in the clutch.
Bob Bradley still needs to be fired. I have no idea why he hates Adu and Torres. I have no idea why he thinks putting in Conor Casey is a good idea. I have no idea why he didn't use a 3rd sub to shore up the back line to make things a little easier.
Spain are healthy and will run rampant on Wednesday, but it's a good win and an even better escape.
unbelievable!! USA!! Don't Tread on Me!!
Why did they suddenly decide to start playing? I mean, I'm glad they did, but where were they for the first two games? This was a total display of guts, man. USA!
Kevcamp the US did play very hard the 1st two games! Early goals from phantom calls and red cards against the worlds best doesn't help. Being a man down means a lot more then you think. Anyway you look at it now doesn't matter though because we're through to the next round! HERE WE COME SPAIN!
LOL @ Rossi!!!!!
AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHHAAHHA LMAO.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YwEMxYggoKQ&eurl=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.bigsoccer.com%2Fforum%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D1074328&feature=player_embedded
GO GO GO US SOCCER!!!!
Insane. Outstanding. Bravo! Get some sleep. Spain cometh.
I hope Bob's keeping our secret weapons, Adu and Torres, hidden from the rest of the world.
I just can't see why they would be kept off of the field.
Right now, I am just so HAPPY!!!!!
Some people need to shut up until the very end to criticize.
I don't see anyone bashing Bob Bradley and Team USA now and leaving 40-some comments ranting how everything is wrong with the USA.
One thing that defines USA as a nation is to never give up even when all odds are against you. Never.
Personally I believe a coach should never be fired IN BETWEEN world cups, only immediately after a world cup with a disappointing performance. Case in point: Mexico's National Team. The lack of continuity in between world cups has created a crisis and even the minimal loss presses Mexico's soccer federation to sack their coach without giving them a chance to learn and redeem from their mistakes.
Also, whoever believes that a big-name European coach will bring USA success just for the sake that he is "European" is a dumb ass. Case in point: Mexico's team. Bringing former England coach Sven Eriksson with a multi-million dollar salary didn't produce good results. Nationalities don't win games. Money doesn't win games.
Attitude does. Case in point: USA.
Great effort. Hope this shuts up the Bob Bradley haters for a minute so I can actually enjoy this. I'm sure Jamie Trecker will try to spin this in to a negative.
We are in the semifinals of a major tournament. Bottomline...I'm proud. There were actually tears in my eye when the final whistle blew.
Bring on Spain. Anything can happen. Either way, we got atleast two more games next week and that makes me very happy.
Proud to be an American Supporter today. COME ON YOU YANKS!
SSReporters, if the only reason why you think Bob Bradley should be fired is because he doesn't put your starting lineup in the game, then i suggest you come up with a better excuse. Bob Bradley is advancing the state of US soccer in a positive way. A loss to Italy and Brazil in a Confederations Cup that has no ramifications other than the fact that it serves as a World Cup simulation is not basis for a firing squad.
Im sure you do not even know why he makes the decisions he makes. You don't see the players face to face on a daily basis like he does. It's really easy to criticize from far away.
We're talking as if we're world beaters when in reality we had a very good win against a hobbled team missing its top two strikers and got a ton of help from Brazil. It's one game and Spain will destroy us.
@ Terrence, I disagree. The US showed no effort in the Brazil game and the red cards were absolutely justifiable. I don't see a phantom call being the reason Beasley whiffed on a SHORT CORNER.
We can't just make excuses when we lose (ref, red card, etc.), then talk up ourselves as if we're a legit top 20 team.
Just enjoy the win and effort from the team but don't make it larger than it really is.
In the Soviet Union official propaganda always said that USSR beat Hitler’s Germany because of Stalin leadership. And only during and after Perestroika it became clear that Soviet Army won not because but despite Stalin and his tragic mistakes.
So, Bob Bradley should be FIRED anyway!
Dempsey finally scored but he is too tired to perform well against Spain. Everyone but BB understands it.
I am very proud of how our team played I still think Bob Bradley needs to be fired and changes made but well done boys!!!!!!
as9ard you're kidding me.
Bob Bradley is tactically inept. He's not just tactically inept but he plays favorites. Guys like Kljestan shouldn't see the light of day.
Advancing US soccer? Whoa whoa whoa. He has done jack.
You're one of those guys who probably thinks we're good because we routinely beat Mexico and some small island Caribbean nations in World Cup Qualifying. There is more to football than CONCACAF.
We hardly deserve to be in the semifinals when you look past Egypt.
If you want to talk about lineups then I look to Brazil. Kljestan?! WHAT?!!! Beasley?!! You're joking. Not to expect a win but that was barely an effort.
Look at the big picture and convince me that Bob Bradley is the US' leader heading into the 2010 World Cup. He is not even close.
PREKI FOR HEAD COACH!!!
I also dare you to show me a quality road win under the Bob Bradley era. Do not include friendlies because that's garbage. USA vs. Egypt doesn't really count either as a "neutral" ground.
Please take off your rose-colored glasses and realize Bob Bradley is crap.
One game does not change anything, especially against a beat up team like Egypt who had to use all their subs with at least 30 to go I believe.
Good ol' Blank Face Bob puts Conor Casey into chase they ball when we are up 3-0?? I guess his speed was the deternmining factor there. Also, Deuce should have came off with 10 to go. He has clearly been gassed these past 3 games. Someone needs to tell Bob that it's ok to use all three subs and that your subs are supposed to serve a purpose.
Finally, keep up the good work SSReporters....don't be blind like the rest of the sheep here....baaaaa baaaa baaaa
Guys,
First off, great win and rebound by the USA. I'm glad they played with passion and aggression today.
Nevertheless, those of you saying Bob Bradley haters need to back off also need to keep this game in perspective: the USA beat the lowest-ranked team in our group missing their best player. This is a team we were supposed to beat; we didn't come to Confed Cup to play...Egypt.
Bradley's tactics were still questionable to me in this game - as was his subbing - and just because we won our 2nd game in 5 outings doesn't mean I'm going to forget the form our team has played in recently.
The fact that Adu and Torres have not been played at all but Conor Casey was brought in baffles me. We are still not crisp technically, our offensive passing leaves so much to be desired, and the positioning in our midfield makes little sense.
I have never stopped cheering for our team but today's win doesn't change anything for me. I hope the USSF doesn't hang their hat on one win post-tournament and fairly evaluates where this team is. For those of you who think BB is "advancing" this team; well, I implore you to got back and look at the USA in 2002.
Go USA! Take it to Espana!
We are by no means better than we were before this tournament.
We got LUCKY today. No doubt about it. Egypt were missing Zidan, their best attacking threat, and a few other players. We were without Bocanegra and Kljestan. Kljestan wouldn't have started to begin with, and Bocanegra's inclusion would have been a moot point because Egypt's attack was impotent.
Be comfortable with this win if you want to, but you're only deluding yourself.
For example, the US women were on a tear with their friendlies against 2nd class teams under Ryan, yet many of us were criticizing Ryan's long ball tactics. Too bad we were not taken seriously until we bombed out in the semis against Brazil. Ryan was an IDIOT, as evidenced by subbing out Solo for Scurry in the semis...
@SSReporters -
We beat Guatemala on the road in qualifying in an extremely hostile stadium where we have failed to win in the past.
I love the attitude that a coach shouldn't be fired in between world cups. Why should we wait until we're eliminated in the first round to start doing something pro active about the state of our national team?
Dempsey didn't "step up," he was lucky on positioning and the recipient of a great ball into the box. truthfully he should have been subbed by Feilhaber. Chalk one up to luck for BB.
rks~ i hope you dont sincerely think beating the 112th team in the world 1-0 in a sloppy performance counts as a good road win.
Great win they did the impossible, but Bob Bradley is still not a good coach. And we beat a handicapped Egypt missing it's best players. So rejoice as if some revelation has been made and we now know what we're doing, but you look silly.
Not to mention the US played with 10 men and Guatemala failed to convert on numerous chances.
gkinmd,
SO, if the result went the other way, you would have swooped in and said "I told you so." BUT, since we won, it was "luck."
Isn't it fun how you can never be "wrong"?
Go U.S.A!
as9ard said:
Some people need to shut up until the very end to criticize.
I don't see anyone bashing Bob Bradley and Team USA now and leaving 40-some comments ranting how everything is wrong with the USA.
One thing that defines USA as a nation is to never give up even when all odds are against you. Never.
Personally I believe a coach should never be fired IN BETWEEN world cups, only immediately after a world cup with a disappointing performance. Case in point: Mexico's National Team. The lack of continuity in between world cups has created a crisis and even the minimal loss presses Mexico's soccer federation to sack their coach without giving them a chance to learn and redeem from their mistakes.
Also, whoever believes that a big-name European coach will bring USA success just for the sake that he is "European" is a dumb ass. Case in point: Mexico's team. Bringing former England coach Sven Eriksson with a multi-million dollar salary didn't produce good results. Nationalities don't win games. Money doesn't win games.
AMEN TO THAT!
You've basically said everything that was on my mind. :]
you ppl keep saying BB should go for Jurgen.... I dissagree. if it's an american team I want an AMERICAN coach. all you critics should try to coach the team one day... I wanna see what kind of job you'd acomplish.
INCREDIBLE! One of the best US performances I've ever seen. Rossi must be kicking himself, now!
Thank you USMNT for playing your tails off today. Dempsey I need you to track back a heck of a lot more. Nice goal to get us to 3 though. Never thought I'd say this, but take a lesson from Donovan on that one Clint. Michael Bradley you are a stud, I've never questioned your inclusion in the squad. Can we replicate your heart and passion and stick it in everyone else's chest? Gooch very very solid performance, way to anchor down the defense. Demerit well done also. Bornstein clean it up fella but nice job running up and down the field. Clark, Altidore, Donovan, Davies solid work all the way around. Landon I'll admit you've been fairly consistent throughout the tournament and your display of effort has you back on your way into the hearts of U.S. fans. Please don't stop trying to prove something every minute of every game. Guzan nice job in goal. You made one big save in the first half that kept hopes alive and that is something I think we've been missing from Howard. Watch yourself on the crosses though, you darn near gave me a stroke. Feilhaber, awesome energy coming off the bench. I like you out wide to the right, you played decent defense for a mainly attacking midfielder. This also lets Dempsey get up top and stay there since he won't play defense anymore. That leaves me with Spector. Man since I first saw you in the U.S. squad I couldn't understand what was taking so long to get you some time on the pitch. You've have played quite well all tournament long and that cross you put on Dempsey's head was as inch perfect as any I've ever seen from Beckham.
Please don't rest on the performance of one game though guys. We need this kind of effort and competitive fire every match. Of course, you don't have to win every game, just be consistent in your effort and concentration always. This is all U.S. fans will ever ask of you. Thanks again guys!
Very well done. Our boys did what they had to do against a dangerous opponent.
I hope they're passing the hat in locker room so they can send a couple cases of champagne to the Brazilian players.
I have always loved Dempsey but goal or not he should not have been in there. His giveaways and lack of effort were hard to watch. In fact the entire tournament the US has lacked a "first to ball" energy. Davies goal was all hustle and that seemed to change something. Finishing three in the run of play is something we can build on. I'm shocked but pleased.
"if it's an american team I want an AMERICAN coach."
PREKI!!!!!!!!!!!
This coming from a Toronto FC fan. ;-)
Great win for our boys, no matter how banged up Egypt is, we took it to them (they did beat Italy and give Brazil a scare) and if Davies slides the ball to Jozy and Jozy can finsih the open netter we have 5 goals. Davies deserves some credit, he is our only attacking player that has the pace to be dangerous and he works hard, unlike Jozy who is a bog target and did good job of holding and passing the ball well but generally gives up once he is dispossesed.
Spector should be put in at right back in permanenet marker
We still need to see more of Torres and Adu deserves some minutes.
Bradley is not a great coach, and deserves the Gold Cup to show he is capable. If we move back, sack him or we will once again tank at the world cup.
Changing coaches mid-qualification is not the best idea, but if we take steps back and look like we did against Brazil, Costa Rica etc. getting new blood in will be our only hope of reaching the quarters in 2010.
Please....am I am happy the US won and are through to the semis? ofcourse...but please they did not show tremendous heart....they played an Egypt side that was marginal at best...they looked sloppy on defense and still mulled around for the majority of the match like a bunch of primadonnas...great finishes for Dempsey and Bradley and great effort and opportunistic goal for Davies...Donovan? well wow other than an occasional good touch he is our leading goal scorer who passes the ball to no one when he's ten yards from goal one on one with the keeper...pathetic!!! underserving of a ten!!! another performance like that versus spain and we will be praying we never mae it through to the semis....Torress and Adu and Bennies...still await in the wings to step on the field and show and prove...by the way Tim Howard on the bench in a must win game when we need to keep the score sheet blank? Wow love Guzan but that was moronic
First and foremost, Congrats to the MNT for their win. It only goes to show that it was all in their stupid mentallity that did not allow them to put in a competitive effort against Brazil and Italy. It is the coach's job to have the team motivated and overall tactically prepared. Which suffice to say that Bradley was not doing his job to have the team ready and is not the person to take us to the next level. We have a year, please a year, to have another coach (preferably Klinnsman) do what he's gotta do to have us prepared for the 2010 WC. Which without a doubt we WILL qualify for. Please something has to be done because we won't get that lucky again at the 2010WC.!!!!
I have no idea why everyone wants Klinnsman. There is no way he is the man for the job. I say let Bob do what he can until after the world cup (I'm betting Russia will qualify). Guus Hiddink is definitely the man to take US soccer to the next level. He is without a doubt the premier National Program builder. He's done it with South Korea, Australia, and now Russia. I don't care if he asked to be the next U.S. President as compensation. Give him whatever he wants when he next becomes available. DO NOT, I repeat DO NOT hire Klinnsman!! We would wind up in the same boat as Mexico, hiring any random idiot to be our savior and watching the program fail miserably. Hiddink is the best and only program builder. Every one of the programs he has managed has continued to build on the success they achieved under his guidance. Can you say the same for any other national team coach?
In the meantime, ride it out with BB I agree with not changing managers mid-qualifications (Unless somehow Hiddink became available). I would rather not wait for success, but it's our own fault we didn't snatch up Hiddink in '06.
Mr. Gulati please don't screw up twice on that one. Hiddink or bust in 2010!
Great win today! Made me really proud of the team. Excellent performance. However, it will take a lot more to erase bad taste left after previous four games. Bob Bradley is still not the man for the job. Why bring Torres and Adu and not let them see a minute of action??
I am wondering what all of the Bob Bradley "haters" expected of the USA in the Confed Cup? Did you honestly expect the US to even make it past the group stage with Brazil and Italy?
Did you forget that the USA played without their captain against the two most prestigious (most WC wins) soccer nations in the world?
What happens if the USMNT somehow beats Spain? Will that be luck too? I know its unlikely, but it was much more unlikely for the USMNT to even make it this far following the first 2 games.
When will the pessimists be happy?
Big picture: The US is through to the semifinals in a group that included Egypt, Italy, and freaking Brazil. That's pretty incredible.
Sure we got a little lucky, but no way we get in a group this tough for WC2010.
THE YANKS ARE COMING!
KO your reading comprehension skills suck. I never said the win was luck. I never said they couldn't or shouldn't win this game. You're a blind homer, this team has huge problems that are fixable, own your homerism.
PeteKALIK:
No way we get in a group this good in the Cup? A group as good as Brazil, an ailing Italian side and Egypt? Does group E from 2006 mean anything to you?
"Dempsey's head was as inch perfect as any I've ever seen from Beckham."
Obviously haven't watched much football, then. Even if you had you wouldn't have seen many of those.
I'll be happy when he leaves M.Garner! I love the fact that we beat Egypt and all is right. His tactics and selection were embarassing against Brazil. We were beat before we even took the field. Bradley is a hypocrite. He won't play Freddy because of lack of playing team at the club level but then throws Beasley in who hardly played at all for Rangers.
And as far as Bocanegra is concerned, DeMerit did just as well. Bocanegra is not slow and would be our best bet at left back. I wonder if Blank Face Bob would even ponder that.
PeteK - you're right never will we have a group like this year in the Confed cup for WC2010...Ghana, Italy and Czech Republic is not comparable at all! We needed to get seeded this year to have the best possible group. Let's see if that happens.
Congrats guys, keep up the fighting spirit!
sorry BB haters no soup for you. today you moan about adu and torres, who looked lost v costa rica.remember the gooch haters, they wanted him out. leave the selection process to those who know... oh i'm sorry you were a back up forward in high school and know everything about all.
Rich, I agree with you o an extent that BB is not the problem...however he has made some poor choices in the line up. For example he continues to test Klestian who is too feeble and weak to play in the central of midfield at this level...just go back to the Mexico qualifier in Chicago. SK lost every ball he touched. I stoppped counting after 40!! That is how a player is gauged esp in the middle of the park. Which leads me to my next point...proven ball handlers who play attacking minded and possession futbol are universely left on the bench....having layed under Bradley years ago I am actually qiote surprised that the likes of Adu Torres and Bennie routinely ride the pine...
gkinmd,
Really?
"Dempsey didn't "step up," he was *LUCKY* on positioning and the recipient of a great ball into the box. truthfully he should have been subbed by Feilhaber. Chalk one up to *LUCK* for BB. (emphasis added).
Actually, it looks like your short-term memory is somewhat lacking. And if the U.S. happens to lose on Wednesday to Spain (a certainty that I am not willing to concede or even suggest) I am sure you will find your way onto the blogs and say, "Hey, KO--I told you so." And if they battle it out against the number 1 team, you will be the first to find fault.
C'mon man. Your attitude it tragic.
@i like tuesdays
You've mis-quoted, what I said was "Spector...that cross you put on Dempsey's head was as inch perfect as any I've ever seen from Beckham."
If you haven't seen a perfect cross from Beckham then I would say it is you who hasn't ever watched the game. Beckham is not the greatest player ever or anything, but he is pretty good at popping accurate and powerful balls into the box. Or are you saying you know better than Ferguson, Capello, Ancelotti and many others who would probably agree on that point?
I'm thinking you just misread the post right?
I am not going to re-write my comments from other post that still apply to this section.
However, making a summary:
I still think that B. Bradley is not the coach that we need; B. Bradley is good, but we need somebody with more experience directing national teams internationally. My 1st pick was and still is Guus Hiddink.
We won yesterday because the team showed a lot of hart and B.Bradley put the right people on the field.
Congrats again for yesterday’s win, extra congrats for finishing the game with 11 players.
Spain plays give and go style. If we give the same spaces and do not mark close to the opponent, following the man instead of the ball, Spain is going to have a feast. Just my 2 cents…
What a thrilling victory. We were shouting at the TV!!
KO, please, follow the discussion. I never denied saying Dempsey was lucky. He was. His work was terrible all game, and it was the cross that made that goal, not him.
What you responded with, and i contradicted was:
"SO, if the result went the other way, you would have swooped in and said "I told you so." BUT, since we won, it was "luck."
Do you understand yet? You asserted i said the win was luck, however i never did. The team was winning 2-0 before Dempseys goal. Just because you want me to be erroneous and ill informed doesn't mean I am.
Rich:
"oh i'm sorry you were a back up forward in high school and know everything about all."
For real? You don't have to be an engineer for toyota to know that something has gone wrong with your car. You don't have to be a world class coach to see that this team has gone backwards under BB.
@gkinmd & @Joe: I think you guys are overrating the US' group in 2006 a tad.
Other than beating the US, the Czech Republic were garbage, outscored 4-0 in their next two games. Poland hammered the US in '02, does that mean they were good too?
Ghana got two flukey goals to advance and then got demolished 3-0 in the next round by Brazil. I fail to see the big deal.
And lastly, having Italy in the group helped the US' cause more than it hurt it. (Much like the Brazilians in this year's Confed Cup.) We're not going to get seeded any time soon, so it is beneficial for the US to get drawn with a dominant top seed.
That was not a group of death, not even close.
But at the end of the day... who cares.
This is a time for celebration. And prank phone calls to every Rossi in the New Jersey phone book. As you can imagine, I'm a busy man.
gkinmd,
I really don't have time for this. Let me spell it out for you. I took the principle that you applied to the Dempsey situation and assumed that you, as a malcontent, would apply it to every other situation.
For example, any prediction that you make that ends up being "right" entitles you to gloat and tell everyone that you knew what you were talking about. Any prediction that you make that doesn't happen is an aberration...an anomaly. Therefore, you can never be wrong; things just didn't work out as they should.
And, following that principle, I am dead-on, sport.
I never said you asserted anything. I just took what you said and applied it to a different fact situation, didn't I?
Indeed, I SAID: "SO, if the result went the other way, you would have swooped in and said 'I told you so.' BUT, since we won, it was 'luck.'"
Oh, and I don't WANT you to be erroneous and ill-informed. But I can't change the fact that you are. You are also the type of negative fan that we loyal fans and, I assume the players, loathe. You can critique, but try to show some loyalty to the U.S. team.
The worst part about commenting on blogs is that you can be brazen, negative, and irrational, and yet hide behind the anonymity of your blogger name. Most of us are happy to offer constructive criticism and then cheer fervently. The "____ experts" that MB was referring to included you, champ.
I don't think the FIFA stats are fool-proof, but at least they provide concrete support for the fact the Dempsey has been working his tail off. The stats also show that he has been pretty productive. Best I can tell, he has been playing well, although with some questionable decisions on the ball. Mental fatigue? Maybe. OR maybe he is a human soccer player, and like all soccer players, gives the ball up in bad positions.
You rip the team. You rip the coach. But you have no solution. You haven't identified concrete problems with tangible evidence. Instead, you feed off of your own arrogance and "personal" insight to automatically conclude that the team will not make it out of the group stages next year. Based on what? They made it to the semi-finals THIS year in the Confederations Cup, didn't they?
Yea. I bet you are just the type of fan that our players love.
You shouldn't apply any "principle", because it's not what i said. I've not dressed down the entire team, only the problem spots, and if the players can't take criticism, maybe they should rethink wanting to represent the entire country. I am not supremely negative or critical, however this situation is supremely negative and requires a lot of criticism at this point in time. Someone has to counteract the homers.
If you really think Dempsey is the second best mid in the tournament, i just don't think there's any helping you. You're content with mediocrity, and theres just no changing that i guess.
A coach that required a little bit of accountability out of his players, and didn't play such favorites with the team would be a good start, as i've said before, but i guess you were just continuing not listening.
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