Sunday, June 28, 2009

Live - Confederations Cup final

Fifa Confederations Cup

Live Confederations Cup - USA v Brazil

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)

606: DEBATE

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By Jonathan Stevenson

1947: Jeepers - Landon Donovan whips over a corner from the right and Carlos Bocanegra has a free header, but his effort is deflected behind. It's been mostly Brazil, but USA could be 2-0 up.

1945: Kaka turns majestically into space in the centre circle and then slides Robinho into space down the left - the Man City man gets into the box and forces a low save from Tim Howard.

Goooooooooooooaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaal
1943: I'm not even joking. USA have their first attack of the game and it's enough to go in front. Jonathan Spector swings over a cross from the right and in space, Clint Dempsey - on the volley - helps the ball on its way towards the far corner and past the despairing dive of Julio Cesar.

GOAL USA 1-0 Brazil

1940: Robinho swings over a corner from the left and Kaka, who has wiped Sepp Blatter's slobber off his face, glances wide at the near post. Doesn't he always look so well-groomed, Kaka?

BBC Sport's Simon Austin on Twitter: "Must be the biggest crowd of the tournament here at the 62,500 Ellis Park, but still quite a lot of empty seats as there have been throughout."

1937: USA have gone with the two lively boys up front in Charlie Davies and Jozy Altidore - and that's a fairly attacking set-up against a team like Brazil. How much will they miss the banned Michael Bradley in the midfield?

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From Fact Jack on 606: "Really touching speech from Foe's son. Brought a tear to my eye. RIP."
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1933: The vuvuzelas are in full use as we kick off at Ellis Park.

1931: That really was quite an emotional moment as Foe's son, Marc-Scott, read out a message of thanks for the support he and his family have received since the untimely death of his father.

1928: We've had the anthems - and there's a tribute to Marc-Vivien Foe too, the Cameroon midfielder who died tragically aged 28 during a Confederations Cup semi-final in France in 2003. His son, wearing a 'Foe 17' Cameroon shirt, appears with the two sets of players as a message is read out over the tannoy, while he reads a message out of his own. Touching stuff.
Fifa will stage memorial for Foe

1924: Good to see Fifa president Sepp Blatter doesn't have favourites, anyway. He's one of the guests of honour and shakes hands with all 22 players - stopping to kiss one, Brazilian superstar Kaka. Kiss him. For God's sake.

1923: But these Yanks, they don't give up easily. They have already produced their best Confed Cup result by reaching the final and have only failed to score in one of their last 18 internationals. Though that was against Brazil in a Group Stage pounding 10 days ago.
Report: USA 0-3 Brazil

1921: There's no doubt that if all the stars and planets are aligned, Brazil will walk off with the trophy in Jo'burg tonight. They have beaten USA 14 times in their 15 previous meetings, are unbeaten in their last 15 games and have won seven in-a-row. I wonder when the USA last ended a similarly impressive run...
Report: Spain 0-2 United States

1919: Stevo's Predo: USA 2-3 Brazil

Text in your views on 81111
From Phil, Baker St, via text on 81111: "I love football in the summer. Looking forward to rushing home from work and seeing the second half. It also brilliantly fills the Wimbledon rest day! C'mon USA and Fulham's Clint Dempsey."

BBC Sport's Simon Austin on Twitter: "Both teams on the pitch going through their final warm-ups. Pretty cold in Jo'burg and Kaka is one of several Brazil players wearing some wool."

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From blueboyrob on 606: "No team has ever won the Confederation Cup then gone on to win the World Cup the next year. With Brazil being such a superstitious nation, I feel we may see some Brazilians waving a US flag tonight ;)"
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1910: But let's focus on USA and Brazil and who will win the eighth Confederations Cup for now. I hope they've brought their A-games, and I hope you have too. Texts to 81111, debate away on 606. Missive me up, people, missive me up.
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BBC Sport's Simon Austin on Twitter: "Already a deafening din of vuvuzelas at Ellis Park. There are a lot of Brazilian flags in the stands but no sign of the stars and stripe ..."

1906: USA v Brazil line-ups:
USA: 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: Julio Cesar, Maicon, Lucio, Luisao, Andre Santos, Ramires, Felipe Melo, Silva, Kaka, Luis Fabiano, Robinho.
Subs: Victor, Juan, Kleber, Dani Alves, Miranda, Josue, Julio Baptista, Elano, Kleberson, Alexandre Pato, Nilmar, Gomes.
Referee: Martin Hansson (Sweden)

1904: Still aren't convinced by this tournament? Then you obviously didn't watch the third-place play-off. 1-0 down with two minutes to go, Daniel Guiza's quickfire brace appeared to have turned it round for Spain, until Katlego Mphela rocketed a truly magnificent 30-yard free-kick into the top corner with the last kick of the game to earn South Africa extra-time. Oh, Spain won 3-2 in the end.
Report: Spain 3-2 South Africa (aet)

1900: Foregone conclusion? There's no such thing - just ask Spain. Welcome to the Confederations Cup final, where Brazil are expected to comfortably beat USA and win the trophy for the third time. Something tells me, however, that it might not quite pan out like that...


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