Confederations Cup Semifinal Match Report: Brazil 1 - 0 South Africa

South Africa put up a world-class performance, but went down to a late goal in a 1-0 defeat to Brazil in Confederations Cup semifinal defeat at the Coca Cola Park Stadium on Thursday night.

There are 67 FIFA rankings between the two sides, but you wouldn’t have thought it as the home side put up a performance which tested the star-studded South American champions to the fullest and bodes really well for the future.

Joel Santana and team did South Africa proud - Image from Associated Press

South Africa put up a wonderful showing in the first half, throughout the game for that matter – dedication was shown in winning the ball back and spaces were quickly closed down on a consistent basis, ensuring that Brazil’s chances were limited.

Not only were the likes of Kaka, Robinho and Luis Fabiano kept under wraps, but South Africa had several good moments in attack, keeping the ball well at times, in general giving as good as they got against a world class unit.

A Selecao had to wait until the 11th minute for their first chance of the game when Ramires tested Ithumeleng Khune with a dipping shot from 20-yards out, but the Chiefs keeper got down well to make a comfortable save.

Two minutes later the home side had their first chance, showing they were prepared to match the South Americans blow for blow as the impressive Siboniso Gaxa won a challenge before flashing a shot just wide.

Bafana continued to look solid at the back and had a great chance to open the scoring in the 21st minute when a Teko Modise picked out Aaron Mokoena at the back post from a free kick.

It should have been 1-0 South Africa, but the skipper headed over the bar from close range.

By this stage of the game the Bafana players’ confidence was up, sensing that they could indeed match the Brazilians and Simphiwe Tshabalala forced a great save out of Julio Cesar with a well struck free kick on the half hour mark.

There were a few half chances for the likes of Kaka and Andre Santos before the break, but when South Africa went into the recess at 0-0, it was very much job done.

The second half more or less duplicated the first as Joel Santana’s men made life difficult for Brazil. Excellent man marking by Benson Mhlongo on Kaka meant that Brazil’s main playmaker was nullified, with a result that in general, the Samba Boys were only able to manufacture half-chances on goal.

Excellent man marking by Benson Mhlongo on Kaka meant that Brazil’s main playmaker was nullified, with a result that in general, the Samba Boys were only able to manufacture half-chances on goal.

Mokoena’s first half miss had been the defining moment in the first stanza, and there was an incidence of similar importance in the 58th minute when Modise’s shot took a deflection off a Brazil defender - the ball seemed to be headed for the back of the net, until Cesar made a world-class save.

Prior to that moment, the South Africans has been in the ascendancy, showing through their play that there was a belief that they could win the game, the likes of Steven Pienaar, Tshabalala, Mhlongo and Modise doing outstanding work in the middle of the park.

There was little more goal-mouth action of note, until Bafana suffered the killer blow two minutes from time when Mokoena gave away a free kick just outside the box and substitute Dani Alves buried the ball with an effort that gave Khune very little chance.

Alves' substitute impact - Image from Associated Press

The relief on the Brazil players’ faces was in clear evidence – it had been a fantastic performance by South Africa and it has started to appear as if the Samba Boys were starting to run out of ideas as extra time approached.

Dani Alves celebrates his trademark goal - Image from Associated Press

Brazil players happy to be in final - Image from Associated Press

This report is featured at MTNFootball.

Confederations Cup Semifinal Match Report: Spain 0 - 2 USA

A match report as seen through the eyes of a football fan in South Africa.

Feilhaber rejoices - Image from Reuters

Spain had not lost a match since November 2006. They were on a record breaking 15 match winning streak. They had not conceded a single goal during this Fifa Confederations Cup.

These were some of the facts that were rolling off the commentators tongue prior to kick-off, but after another amazing 90 minutes of soccer, the US Men's National team turned world football on it's head yet again when they defeated the mighty Spain 2-0 at Bloemfontein Stadium to advance to Sunday's final.

Tonight we witnessed a truly brilliant team performance from USA, the team who after two matches in Group B had 0 points and a goal difference of -5 somehow defied the odds to beat the unbeatable.

Coach Bob Bradley's men made their intentions clear early in the match as they tried to show Spain that they wouldn't be content with just defending. Clint Davies had the first chance when he attempted an overhead kick from inside the box but his effort went narrowly wide.

Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan both tested Casilla's with efforts from distance as the Eagles got off to a bright start despite trailing Spain in terms of possession.

Torres had Spain's first attempt on goal when Fabregas squared the ball to him, but with too much pace on the cross and an awkward angle Torres could only blast the ball into the crowd for a goal-kick.

Big Jozy Altidore scoring US 1st goal - Image from Associated Press

It was however in the 26th minute that the game turned on its head. Villarreal's 19 year old striker Jozy Altidore received a pass from Landon Donovan and the powerful striker expertly shrugged off the challenge from Joan Capdevilla before firing an unstoppable shot at Casilla's, who got a strong hand to it but still failed to keep it out.

1-0 to America and you could sense an upset was on the cards. For large parts of the rest of the match it was all about USA hanging on for dear life as the Spanish hit them with everything in their locker, but USA defended brilliantly, Jay DeMerit starring at the back with a serious of last ditch tackles and vital blocks which kept their 1 goal lead safe going into the break.

Spain emerged from the break determined to pull a goal back and probably would have were it not for a series of fine saves from Tim Howard and more goal saving tackles from DeMerit. You could sense that Spain were starting to get frustrated as they pressed forward with attack after attack, and 20 minutes from full-time the USA punished them with a goal from nowhere on the counter.

Clint Dempsey scores to kill Spain's hopes of equalising - Image from Reuters

Landon Donovan was the creator again , this time playing an inviting cross into the path of Clint Dempsey who was lurking at the far post. Sergio Ramos managed to get to the ball first but he failed to clear the danger and Dempsey capitalized on his slip up to make it 2-0 to the USA.

Spain were now visibly shocked and you you could see that the USA would win this one, even though they lost Michael Bradley in the dying moments of the match after the midfielder was shown a straight red for a two footed challenge.The Eagles held on for a memorable win that will see them taking on either Brazil or South Africa in Sunday's final.

This report is featured at SA Football Fans.