Confederations Cup - Brazil close in on semis

Eurosport - Thu, 18 Jun 21:56:00 2009

Brazil produced a stellar performance to hammer the United States 3-0 and close in on the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup in South Africa.

FOOTBALL 2009 - Brazilian defender Maicon scores against the USA in the Confederations Cup - 0

First-half goals from Felipe Melo and Robinho were added to in the second by the excellent right-back Maicon after the US had been reduced to 10 men for the second match running.

Brazil were on top from the opening seconds, sending in free-kicks and crosses which had the USA defending desperately.

The States had earlier in the week impressed with 10 men against world champions Italy, even taking the lead, but with a full quota they struggled against the Brazilians' natural flair.

Ramires was a danger bursting from midfield while Kaka pulled the strings and Maicon attacked constantly, linking with the irrepressible Robinho.

After seven minutes they had the lead. Ramires won the ball as the Americans tried to pass the ball out of defence and won a free-kick on the right, which Maicon whipped in. Melo rose unmarked to nod past Tim Howard.

Jay DeMerit blocked a first-time effort from Robinho as the pressure continued, and it was the Manchester City star who found the back of the net for 2-0.

Kaka instigated a counter-attack at pace, sending away Ramires on the right; the Benfica midfielder squared the ball to Robinho in the middle, who finished with aplomb.

Three minutes later Kaka - recently the subject of a big-money move to Real Madrid from Milan - took the ball on a dazzling dribble, skinning several players on the outside before turning it into the left side netting with Howard narrowing the angle.

The South African crowd were enjoying the show, blaring their distinctive trumpets as US captain Landon Donovan sought in vain to initiate an attack.

Panathinaikos midfielder Gilberto Silva should have made it three before the break after Maicon found his head unmarked in the box, but he nodded over.

US coach Bob Bradley threw on Conor Casey for the ineffective DaMarcus Beasley at the break and the States initially fared better, getting stuck in and closing the space available to Dunga's side.

However, that approach left them a man down when Sacha Kljestan went through Ramires with a late challenge as play continued and Kaka saw a majestic shot beaten away by Howard.

It took Swiss referee Massimo Busacca a couple of minutes to make up his mind - the tackle could feasibly have resulted in either a caution or a sending off - and in the end, with Ramires carried off briefly, a red card was issued.

Just after the hour-mark, the US paid the price. Maicon surged forward and found Ramires, who passed straight to Kaka. The ball was set up for the onrushing Internazionale full-back, whose shot was deflected slightly into the goal.

It was little more than a training exercise for Confederations Cup holders Brazil - looking for a third trophy in the competition - but they had a pair of scares at the end.

First Benny Feilhaber struck the underside of the bar after Jonathan Spector had nutmegged a defender near the right corner and played a one-two with Donovan.

And the woodwork was hit again when LA Galaxy star Donovan's free-kick was met by Casey in the dying moments of the match.

Jonathan Symcox / Eurosport

Comment 6 - 25 of 25

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  1. it was funny when robinho scored
    he have an interview ­ lol
    funny

    From nabil khan,eccles!, on Fri 19 Jun 9:14PM

  2. DONNEY, YOU NEED TO LEARN HOW TO SPELL BEFORE YOU TALK­ S H I T ABOUT THE USA YOU LITTLE B I T C H

    From Shaka, on Fri 19 Jun 4:52PM

  3. USA-WORLD CUP 2010 CHAMPS!!!

    From Shaka, on Fri 19 Jun 4:42PM

  4. BRAZILIAN SAMBA IS THE BEST

    From ismail_xyz, on Fri 19 Jun 8:23AM

  5. k.. i understand...but nadal still lots of time to­ challenge other tilte...WAIT
    wat r v talking bout...oh­ ya..football...so as im saying..KAKA is the best....

    From gabbatiz8, on Fri 19 Jun 3:48AM

  6. All British teams should get involved in more­ competitive matches both with each other and against­ one another like the USA, Brazil, etc..... We have­ previously missed out on the Olympics and in 2012 we­ are only going to field players from England, when it­ should be the case of the best 11 get selected­ regardless of their UK status. In the past we could­ have had Linker and Rush, Giggs and Beckham, Keane,­ Dalglish joining forces and taking on international­ teams ........... There also seemed to be more so­ before Capello lots of poorly selected friendly­ matches. How about a six nations like they do in rugby­ with: Rep Ireland, Northern Ireland, Scotland, England,­ Wales and France battling it out each year! I am sure­ British teams would get more used to competing and­ increase their chances of getting positive results and­ maybe win something. I think its really good that other­ international teams compete more often and it is about­ time the media and British teams get involved aswell.

    From stephen d, on Thu 18 Jun 11:53PM

  7. Anyway, I think USA is better than RSA and NZL but I­ expect a thumping from Egypt now that they are must­ win. How about that Beasley!

    From MikeR in L.A., on Thu 18 Jun 10:26PM

  8. I am a USA viewer and is it just me or are the ESPN TV­ commentators (De La Camera, Harkes, et al) absolutely­ terrible? Maybe I am spoiled by the great EPL voices­ but these ESPN guys suck.

    From MikeR in L.A., on Thu 18 Jun 10:23PM

  9. mogrify, because your ranking increases as you get­ wins, regardless of the opposition really..
    that's­ why england are 6th and USA are just outside the top­ 10...
    because they constantly win against the­ kazakhstans, andorras, trinidads, guatemalas etc.

    From i am a teacup, on Thu 18 Jun 10:14PM

  10. I'm an American and I don't know how FIFA can­ rank our side 15th in the world. Not this year, and­ not with this coach. The side is not playing at its­ best for Bradley and we should expect an early exit­ from the World Cup.

    From mogrify, on Thu 18 Jun 9:56PM

  11. brazil has a very good control of the both sides of the­ flanks against USA.. but if playing with this team­ against top european team would be very very very­ difficult to even get a draw.. by using 2 defensive­ midfielders that has the same role.. that only knows­ how to wins the ball.. that does not know how to play­ the ball around.. that does not keep the possession..­ and only hoping for the counter attacks was not­ convincing enough to wins the WC2010.. quality like­ xavi and iniesta can be found in the likes of denilson­ or hernanes.. play the ball around like joga bonito..­ keep the identity..

    From ruBoy, on Thu 18 Jun 8:23PM

  12. BAN THE HORNS!!! The World Cup is in serious danger of­ being ruined next year not because of South­ Africa's high crime rate or half built stadiums but­ because of the stupid f.ucking horns that sound out­ throughout the match which has happened in all matches­ in Confed Cup. Please make ban them FIFA ! they're­ so f.ucking annoying!!!

    From urshitarh, on Thu 18 Jun 8:00PM

  13. this game was allllllllllllllll about ricky kaka

    From i am a teacup, on Thu 18 Jun 7:53PM

  14. Another USA loss is OKAY in my books..

    And why is USA­ ranked in the TOP 15 IN THE WORLD?????

    On the flip­ side Brazil is playing great football it should be a­ great match if Italy goes on to win their next match­ and Italy/Brazil will be a great football match in the­ last game of the group stage..

    From carlos c, on Thu 18 Jun 7:37PM

  15. UR THA BASBAL UR THA OWLED ICE HACKEY. THAR GUD A THEM­ SPARTS.

    From Donney, on Thu 18 Jun 7:31PM

  16. THA U S A AS SHIITE. THEY SHAD STACK TAY THA BASGATS.

    From Donney, on Thu 18 Jun 7:28PM

  17. ALREET SAEED HOO YE DAYAN WEE MON.

    From Donney, on Thu 18 Jun 7:28PM

  18. Brazil is showing true class. I think that they are­ going to give Spain a run for its money. Considering­ Spain's weak performance against Iraq.

    From francoisduplessis1, on Thu 18 Jun 6:06PM

  19. Awesome display of football by Brazil. The US team­ should be embarrassed for coming just to watch. But get­ used to the US in football 'Jim'. With 2­ million kids playing every weekend, and a collegiate­ competition that's better than 2nd division­ football in most countries, the American game is­ getting better by the season. Look at the rosters of­ European football teams and you see more and more­ Americans at the top level. And that just means the­ national side will get more competitive and stronger.­ BTW, nice spelling 'Jim'. If you're not in­ 3rd grade or younger, you should probably just give up­ writing and stay silent.

    From Maxx92, on Thu 18 Jun 6:03PM
  20. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    pointless game pointless tournement

    From liam, on Thu 18 Jun 5:57PM
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