JOHANNESBURG, Jun 28: Brazil hit back dramatically from 2-0 down to win the Confederations Cup Final 3-2 – after Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan had shot the United States into a two-goal lead after 27 minutes at Ellis Park.
Superior class and skill triumphed in the end but the committed Americans pushed the five-times world champion to the brink of a shock defeat before losing to a goal six minutes from time.
Dempsey had put the outsiders ahead after 10 minutes and then Donovan added a second to put the US within sight of a historic first victory in a senior FIFA tournament. However those goals merely provoked Brazil into raising their game after the break and they struck back twice through Luis Fabiano and then, decisively, through skipper Lucio.
Fulham winger Dempsey had been official man of the match in the US’ semi-final upset of European champions Spain and he maintained his run of form in the 10th minute by gliding home Jonathan Spector’s long angled drive into the penalty box, catching keeper Julio Cesar by surprise.
Two minutes later, when Brazil snapped back, US keeper Tim Howard proved himself far more alert to danger as he dived left to deflect a Robinho drive for a corner. Then all the focus switched back into the Brazilians’ penalty area where the five-times world champions twice scrambled clumsily to defend right-wing corners from Donovan. They should have heeded the warning.
Goalscoring mix
The American forward, one of the players of the tournament, then duly demonstrated a mixture of pace, touch and vision to extend the US lead in the 27th minute.
Howard had beaten out shots from Felipe Melo and then Maicon. But when Internazionale fullback Maicon gave away the ball lazily after the subsequent corner, Donovan raced away, exchanged passes with Charlie Davies, turned Ramires and shot home for goal No2.
Howard produced another fine save from Andre Santos just before half-time but he was left helpless 45 seconds after the interval when Maicon crossed and Luis Fabiano turned and shot home all in one fluid movement.
That was the cue for a predictable siege of the American goal with Howard saving alertly yet again to a Lucio header from a left-wing corner.
Brazil went even closer on the hour. Kaka’s header appeared to have crossed the goal-line before Howard, falling back, slapped it up against the bar. The ball ricocheted against a post and the recovering Howard caught the ball this time and cleared. Kaka claimed the goal in vain from Swedish referee Martin Hansson.
The Brazilians did not have long to wait, however, before forcing the inevitable equaliser. Kaka was creator this time, accelerating outside the US defence on the left. His cross was jabbed against the bar by Robinho but Fabiano pounced and this time there was no doubting the score.
All the momentum was now with Brazil as the Americans, after enormous physical efforts against both Spain and now again in the final, began to wilt. Spector and Jay DeMerit led the defensive resistance but only until the 84th minute when Brazil captain Lucio rose above the US defence to head home substitute Elano’s right-wing corner.
United States: Howard – Spector, DeMerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra – Dempsey, Clark (Casey 87), Feilhaber (Kljestan 77), Donovan – Davies, Altidore (Bornstein 77).
Brazil: Julio Cesar – Maicon, Lucio, Luisao, Andre Santos (Dani Alves 66) – Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo – Ramires (Elano 66), Kaka, Robinho – Luis Fabiano.
good play from brazil,. for US is not your time to be a champion,.. good luck for the later championsip