Brazil wins USA in the Confederations Cup final

U.S.A. 2-3 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

 

1st half analysis

 

Brazil gained possession of the ball from the very start of the game, but it was U.S.A. who managed to celebrate first. Dempsey got advantage from Spector's cross, he made himself available between Brazil's defensive duo and with a technical shot, he put the ball into the back of the net of Cesar.

 

 

Right after Dempsey's goal, Brazil tried to answer. Kaka made a very nice movein the centre of midfield and passed the ball deep left to Robinho, but his low drive shot was turned away by Everton's goalkeeper Tim Howard.

 

At 25' Felipe Melo's shot from outside the area was saved by Howard again, while at 27' things could have changed for the fate of the 1st half. Maicon made the run from the right flank, took the shot but Howard said no. And when you don't score goals in football, the opponent will. Just after Maicon's chance, Davies made a nice pass to Donovan, who found the Brazilian defence wide open on the counter attack and made it 2-0 ! Simple as that !!!

 

 

Brazil seemed lost for a couple of minutes after USA's second goal, but missed another good chance at 35'. Robinho passed it nicely to Santos, but Howard was there again, once more. The last chance in the 1st half belonged to Brazil again. Maicon made the run from the right flank, crossed it deep into USA's area, but Luis Fabiano failed to reach the ball.

 

2nd half analysis

 

Just a few seconds after referee's whistle for the start of the 2nd half, it was Maicon again from the right flank who made the cross. The ball landed to Fabiano's feet. He made a 180 turn around himself and took the shot. De Merit couldn't stop him and saw the ball going past Howard. Brazil was back in the game.

 

 

Brazil kept pushing and pushing. U.S.A. had lost their concentration. At 58' Brazil won a corner, Lucio took the header, Howard pushed it away, Gilberto took the "rebound" but his shot from close range went high, over the bar. At 61' Kaka - who played mostly on the left wing in the 2nd half - got the header but Howard pushed it away again. The ball really looked as if it had crossed the line in that chance, but the referee waved play on.

 

U.S.A. only true effort in the 2nd half came in 65' First it was Donovan's shotfrom outside the box that got saved by Cesar, while the Brazilian goalkeeper was tested again by Dempsey's shot.

 

At 71' Lucio decided to leave his defence and as a natural "10" passed the ball to Fabiano, who got beaten by Howard, as he went off his posts and caught the ball. But it was at 74' that Brazil brought the game level. Kaka made the long run from the left flank, crossed low and hard, Robinho took the shot but the ball hit the crossbar. Fabiano had no problem to take the "rebound" and make it 2-2 from close.

 

 

It seemed as if it was just a matter of time for Brazil to score again. And they finally made it on a set pice. Elano took the corner from the right, Lucio was completely unmarked in USA's area and smashed it with his header past Howard, to clinch Confederations Cup 2009 for Brazil.

 

 

Man of the Match : It's rather difficult to choose one. Howard was simply awesome for USA while the obvious option for Brazil seems to be Luis Fabiano for scoring 2 goals in the final.