USA 2 Brazil 3
Dempsey 10, Donovan 27, Fabiano 46, Fabiano 74, Lucio 84
USA started at 100 mph and scored two excellent goals.
Clint Dempsey shinned in a probing cross from right back Spector, foxing Julie Cesar in goal. It looked a bit jammy when he guided the ball off his calf and down and across and inside the post. But it was a good finish. That shot went where Dempsey intended.
Then USA scored again, breaking perfectly from a Brazil corner, when Landon Donovan exchanged passes with pint-sized buzzbomb Charlie Daniels, turned the ball sharply inside the last defender, winger Ramirez, and hit a brilliant left foot shot across Cesar into the opposite corner.
What a textbook counter-attack ! US coaches will show DVDs of that goal for the next 100 years : Look how simple football can be, watch two quick forwards who do everything right.
Not being 100% sure that Brazil would win, I had backed over 2.5 goals.
When it was 2-0 at half time, I knew it would not stay 2-0.
Within 40 seconds of the re-start, Luis Fabiano killed Maicon’s cross with one foot, whacked it with the other -and the ball went through Jay DeMerit’s legs and past Tim Howard for 2-1.
The game was very fast and open now as Brazil took control. Intense, compelling, hectic, as wave after wave of gold shirts raced forward.
In 60, Andre Santos crossed and Kaka’s header looked over the line in real time. On the first replay it looked over. On the replay from the best angle it was at least two feet over before Tim Howard slapped the ball against the underside of the bar and it was cleared and play was waved on. Lucky USA! Sack that linesman before the World Cup, please.
A Dempsey shot was parried by Cesar, so USA still had glimpses, a faint hope.
After 66, two overdue substitutions: Dani Alves for left back Andre Santos and Elano for the clueless Ramires.
Conclusion : Dunga thinks Elano is a 20-minute footballer. Dunga could be right. A shame because Elano when he is trying is the finest right flank player for a decade. His crossing, passing and shooting are so clinical, so penetrating, so productive.
In 72, a Kaka dribble on the left took him beyond Spector to the bye-line, his low cross was very slightly deflected, Robinho shinned it against the bar, the ball bounced down very sharply and then flew up seven feet off the ground.
And Luis Fabiano headed in for 2-2.
He is a rugged, durable 28-year old predator who says : That’s what I’m here for. Bang !
Luis Fabiano moves to score goals and stands still to score goals. He does nothing fancy and doesn’t waste energy. He knows when to wait and where to wait. He doesn’t move for the team these days, to play others in, to link the play. He knows his job and does his job.
Then big skipper Lucio headed in a sublime, deep, pinpoint Elano corner to win the Confederations Cup.
Lucio was very emotional at the end of a tremendous contest. A wonderful, spectacular match. USA won the first half 2-0, Brazil won the second half 4-0 – and the contest 3-2.
The USA played bravely and intelligently and fairly. Well done to them. But the Americans tired, the Brazilians took over, got three fine goals, one of which was disallowed, then grabbed the winner.
Excellent game, good champions, decent losers who gave it everything they had.
SUMMARY : Brazil won after Elano and Dani Alves came on.
Dunga said he always picks the hulking Maicon because “you need piano-carriers”.
That is not an insulting remark. It’s never an insult to be selected for the Selecao.
USA (4-4-2) Howard; Spector, DeMerit, Onyewu, Bocanegra; Dempsey, Clark, Feilhaber, Donovan; Davies, Altidore.
Subs: Guzan, Bornstein, Califf, Wynne, Pearce, Beasley, Kljestan, Adu,
Torres, Bradley, Casey, Robles.
Brazil (4-2-3-1) Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Luisao, Andre Santos; Gilberto Silva, Felipe Melo; Ramires, Kaka, Robinho; Luis Fabiano.
Subs: Victor, Juan, Kleber, Dani Alves, Miranda, Josue, Julio Baptista, Elano, Kleberson, Alexandre Pato, Nilmar, Gomes.
Referee Martin Hansson (Sweden)