Matchday 4

The second day of activites in the B group of the Confederations Cup in South Africa threw some exciting results, both strangely unequal and unfair. One could have expected a much better display by the Americans than the one made today and the other one, the stunner in which the Pharaohs won over the current World Cup holders. There is quite a strange and bizarre set of things happening as we speak because nobody could have guessed from the beginning such a difficult match for the Italians or such a trash from the Brazilians.



USA v. Brazil 0-3 18/Jun/09




Again in Pretoria, the Brazilians gave a class of set pieces to the American side. It is obvious that there was more to be expected from the CONCACAF qualified team but the aerial skill of the South Americans won over the physically fit opposition. Few glances of the brilliancy imposed on the Egyptians as a couple of days ago surfaced the weakeness against a clear daft and limp "home" team.

Ten minutes after the first lead the second came after a clear mistake by the American defense in which Beasley lost possession to give Kaká and Robinho a chance, that the City man did not spoil. The truth is that the whole American team was completely unstabilised and distracted and it was not just Beasley's mistake but a defense disrupture.
American defenders lost it completely running like headless chickens to and fro. In this interval the Brazilians had at least three chacnes to extend their lead, all in counter produced by Kaká. Half time whistle was more of a relief for the CONCACAF representatives as the worst part of the storm wa yet to come well into the second half.


After some approaches in the first minutes it was Maicon who secured the win with a wall with Kaká and Ramires. Before that Kljestan was sentoff due to a dirty tackle on Ramires. Now that the match was more than finished the Americans took the liberty to attack at will, just to be stopped by the defensive wall led by Lucio and Juan. A final gasp attempt by Casey on woodwork was among hte main participations of the Americans on Julio Cesar's goal.




Egypt v. Italy 1-0 18/Jun/09




On the other hand the Pharaohs stunned the tournament giving the Italians a well-deserved one-goal win at Ellis Park. The first attempts obviously came from the propositive World Champions in the form of wide shots by Zambrotta, Rossi and Pirlo. While the main attempts were made by the Italian side and the African one struggled with Zidan's injury, the efforts by Rabbou started to take effect. And it was excatly in that same save by Buffon that in the preceding corner Mohamed Homos scored when a completely childish Italian defence waited for the ball.


The beginning if the second half saw the push of the Italians for the equaliser. In the 53th minute Iaquinta missed the opportunity of the match after a very poor inividual technique ball control in front of El Hadary. Pirlo's wide freekick and Iaquinta shot were among the many efforts realised by the now fully-attacking European team. By the 78th minute El Hadary was the main reason because Egypt's goal was still clean. With the siege beginning to wore off, the effects of a solid defending were the only stand the brilliant and superb Egypt keeper. Even with six minutes added in injury the Pharaohs won the game, against all odds.