Confederations Cup 09: Brazil 3 - 2 US

This one stings.

It stings because it was within the US' grasp. It stings because, despite the running theme in pretty much all sports media leading up to the final --- the one which assumed that, even with the Yanks' improved play over the course of the tourney, Brazil was certain to come away with a victory --- it was there for the taking even before kickoff. This American squad had taken the pitch as a contender, instead of the sparring partner most major teams had come to know them as.

The rock-solid defending and creativity up top said to the Brazilians that the Americans had come to play; the 2-0 score at the half left no doubt.

Then came the second half. Brazil knew they had a fight on their hands, and wrested control of the game from their opponent.

There's already a glut of post-match analysis all over the 'net, so I won't spend much more time on it here. Just a few notes:

• Michael Bradley's absence in the midfield wasn't as keenly felt as anticipated. Even the 2nd-half Brazil onslaught was largely engineered from wing play.

• Subbing in Kljestan and Bornstein were questionable moves, yes, but the US had already lost their rhythm and defensive fire by the time they came on.

• Jonathan Spector seemed to be the only weak point of the US' tenacious 1st-half defense. I expected Brazil to exploit it, though it would be well into the 2nd half before they did. (Give Spector credit, though, for his beautiful cross to Dempsey for the game's first goal.)

The US' success in the tournament, and the resulting media attention, brought the hardcore soccer-hating sports journalists out if force. I'll save the next entry for some thoughts on these folks.

Confederations Cup 2009: Spain 0 - 2 USA

Benny Feilhaber of the U.S. (C) celebrates with a teammate after defeating Spain in their Confederations Cup semi-final soccer match at the Free State Stadium in Bloemfontein, June 24, 2009. REUTERS/Dylan Martinez (SOUTH AFRICA SPORT SOCCER IMAGES OF THE DAY)



I'm still dining on the same plate of crow as every other US soccer fan. Even the thrill of the US' improbable entry into the Confederations Cup semifinals --- by virtue of their 3-0 dismantling of Egypt combined with Italy's utter collapse against Brazil with the same result --- couldn't make me believe that there was any chance of beating #1-ranked Spain. Surely the fire and energy that delivered the win over the Pharaohs would convert right back to the awkward, timid form that marked the first two group games.

I'm very happy to have been so wrong. Nearly every US player on the pitch turned in performances that put them in the running for Man of the Match. For my money, it's a toss-up between GK Tim Howard and CB Oguchi Onyewu, who anchored the US defense against a blistering second-half Spain onslaught.

As I write, Brazil and South Africa are 0-0 in the 69th minute of their semifinal match. The US could conceivably face either squad in the final this Sunday, yet another scenario few could have imagined just a few days ago.

Austin Aztex 1 - 0 Mississippi Brilla

To take my mind off of, um, recent professional setbacks, I took in the Austin Aztex' final regular-season home game on Sunday. Though they're the under-23 team --- the full-fledged version of the Aztex begins USL First Division play in 2009 --- they looked like a squad ready to take on any bona fide pro team that comes along. They probably didn't win the possession battle, but their attacks didn't break down as much as Brilla's did, and the first-half goal was executed flawlessly. A low cross just into the six-yard box, right to an Aztex boot ready to tap it home. The win secures a Mid South Division Championship; not bad for your first year, lads.

Just a couple of notes:

• Folks? If you can afford eight bucks for a ticket and three to park, you can probably afford soap and deodorant. If it's a choice, go with the Right Guard and watch MLS games on TV. Please.
• As much as I like seeing a favorite team win...if I never, ever, see another soccer match --- at any level --- played on an American football gridiron, it'll be too soon.

Less-than stellar sports photography at your service:

A short video clip from the 2nd half.

Euro 2008 Finals

Germany 0 - 1 Spain




It won't go down as the greatest finals match in Euro history, but congrats are due for the Spanish side. Not conceding a goal through the entirety of the knockout stages is a good recipe for a championship.

Still, for as much as Spain controlled the tempo and created attacks, it should have been a more decisive victory. One goal, on a wild swinging kick that Lehman saves 99.99 per cent of the time? Again, not one for the ages, but a nice enough warmup for WC 2010.

Water Remains Wet.

From Yahoo News:

A friendly game of soccer, a new study has found, works off more fat and builds up more muscle than jogging.

I would certainly hope so.

The researchers selected 37 men with similar health profiles aged 31 to 33, then split them into groups of soccer players, joggers, and couch potatoes. Predictably, the last group ended the three month-long study in the worst shape.

I hope they had the soccer players rotate out as keeper occasionally, so as not to skew the study.

MLS All-Stars 1, Chelsea 0

Great win. Even for a team that had seemingly little chemistry at times, they played superb defense. Even without Donovan and Twellman, they created lots of great chances from the midfield and up top; DeRosario was bound to score eventually with that kind of constant pressure.

All the talk of Chelsea not quite being in shape, and not being cohesive with Schevchenko only getting his first looks with the team, are bogus. The MLSers weren't familiar with each other either, and looked no less in form than the Blues.

NFL Refs No Longer Look Like Juventus

I'm not sure why, but I find that gratifying.


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