Email Story

Match Recap: SPAIN v USA --- FIFA Confederations Cup --- USMNT hand Spaniards first loss since 2006

getin2thegame posted 6/24/2009 from ballhype.com

June 24 --- BallHype.com: The odds were SO much against the USA for the final match of the group stage in the FIFA Confederations Cup on Sunday night.  After losing their first two matches in the so-called "group of death" (which included powerhouse nations Brazil and Italy, both to whom the USA had lost), it did seem to most to be a meaningless exercise to follow through with the thrid match versus Egypt, ahead of the USA in third place in the group at the time. 

A five-goal deficit seemed to doom the USA, and yet, they were mathematically still alive; the stats on what needed to be done for the USMNT to continue through to the semifinal round were paraded out to all.  Everyone was told how the USA had to beat Egypt by at least three goals, and that Italy needed to lose by at least three goals to Brazil to be eliminated from the tournament, with the USA taking Italy's place and going through.

Well, that is exactly what happened.  The six-goal swing caused by Sunday night's two 3-0 scorelines meant that the USA went through as the second-place team in the group to Brazil, beating out Italy by one scored in the goal differential tie-breaker.

So, the USA were booked into the semis, now facing Spain, the number-one ranked team in the world.

If Sunday night's task seemed improbable at best, then the USMNT's task in this Wednesday knockout-round match seemed even closer to truly impossible.

Spain had not lost a match to ANYONE since November 2006 !  They are the champions of EURO 2008, and as of tonight, had record runs going in the categories of winning streaks (15), and unbeaten streaks (35).

Yet, the impossible DID happen Wednesday night; final score 2-0, USA !

Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey both tallied goals for the USMNT, bringing down and knocking out Spain, the Americans booking their place into the FIFA Confederations Cup Final.

More news and video updates will be posted at BallHype as this HUGE story develops.  Check http://ussoccer.com for the team's official match reports, videos, photos, blogs, and podcasts.

WHAT AN EXCELLENT VICTORY AND WHAT A BEAUTIFUL DAY FOR  AMERICA !  All sports fans should reflect on the importance of this monumental acheivement, relish and cherish it  =) ENJOY

(author: Ric Schenck for getin2thegame / BallHype exclusive report)