Sport

The game for the third place in a major tournament is often a boring affair: teams are ready to pack up and go home. This time, it was slightly different. Spain is the number one team and had high hopes of gaining access to the final to win the tournament. South Africa is the host nation and crowds in Rustenburg were keen to see their team repeat the performance shown against Brazil.

South Africa once again did not disappoint, playing a consistent and inventive game. Two names will be remembered in this game: Mphela for South Africa and Guiza for Spain. Both players scored two goals: Mphela opened the scoresheet for the hosts in the 73rd minute after South Africa had held their opponents well under control, though Khune was forced to make a number of spectacular saves to maintain the 0:0 prior to Mphela‘s excellent goal.

It all seemed as though the hosts would be able to take 3rd place until the 88th minute when Guiza equalized. A minute later, and a cheeky chip by Guiza beat the South African keeper resulting in a 2:1 lead for Spain. In injury time, seconds to go to the final whistle: Mphela once again scores to equalize. His free kick must rank among the best of the tournament and left the Spanish keeper no chance. With the score tied at 2:2, the teams settled into extra time. Spain clinched the game in the 107th minute when Alonso scored from a set piece.

Spain rescued some credibility and South Africa indicated to everyone that their form against Brazil had been no fluke: the team has stepped its game up a notch and improved significantly over the last three weeks. That bodes very well for next year’s World Cup.

South Africa 2 : Spain 3

The team from the USA meets the European champion Spain in tonight’s first Confederations Cup 2009 semi final match. The Spanish team currently holds the record for being undefeated in 35 games in a row, a rather huge burden weighing on the shoulders of the US.

As in any game of football, anything can happen: the US has shown great skill and determination in the tournament so far and may be able to pull off a tremendous upset. The next 90 minutes will deliver the name of the finalist to meet either Brazil or South Africa.

The US played solidly against Spain who seemed to be unable to break through their opponent’s defense. 30 minutes into the first half, Altidore gingerly sidestepped the Spanish defense and whacked the ball into their net to give the US a lead in this very important match. That setback didn’t help Spain, who up until then seemed but a shadow of their former self – unable to penetrate the American defense and constantly on the back foot due to sudden attacks it seemed more and more certain that the US could pull off the tournament’s biggest upset. Dempsey put the team even further into the lead very late in the second half making a comeback highly unlikely for Spain.

Three minutes from full time, Bradley was red-carded after a questionable foul leaving the US team with only ten men on the field. That couldn’t dampen their spirits in the slightest: the US has beaten the world’s number one team and has progressed to the final on Sunday. This was, without doubt, one of the most entertaining and gripping matches of the 2009 Confederations Cup.

USA 2 : Spain 0

The final games of the initial round of the Confederations Cup 2009 take place tonight. As goal differences and points matter, both games are being played at 20:30. Spain takes on South Africa in Bloemfontein and New Zealand take on Iraq at Ellis Park in Johannesburg.

With New Zealand without any chance of making it through, South Africa require at least a single point in their encounter with Spain, though they may still rely on a loss by Iraq to New Zealand. The obvious favourite in the group is Spain. South Africa has a good chance and it would be great to see the host nation attempting a meetup with another big name next week. Sadly, I think there’s little hope that South Africa will progress beyond the next round…

In the first half, we got to see a different South African team: hardly intimidated by the favourites Spain, South Africa initially started with a defensive line-up, then rather quickly took the initiative and pushed forward, attacking the Spanish goal again and again. On 34 minutes, Spain had a great opportunity to go into the lead but a save by Booth after the goalkeeper had been beaten maintained the status quo. South Africa seemed to be creating far more opportunities – maybe Spain were holding back, assured of a semi-final berth? In the game between New Zealand and Iraq, it seemed as though New Zealand had come out fighting fit and Iraq were not afforded too many opportunities. At halftime, both games stood at 0:0.

A foul on Fabregas by Mokoena after 52 minutes resulted in a penalty for Spain…and that penalty was saved by the South African goalkeeper. Seconds later, Villa made sure and popped the ball into the net. He had failed to convert the penalty. Still, South Africa played very well and kept the pressure on. Llorente scored in the 72nd minute putting Spain into a commanding lead. Though South Africa kept the pressure on, there was little they could do to equalize. Slowly but surely, their game turned into a gamble based on the outcome of the paralllel game. At 72 minutes, the score in that game was still 0:0.

This has been one of the better matches of the tournament so far. South Africa played better than they have in quite some time…

South Africa 0 : Spain 2

Iraq 0 : New Zealand 0

Based on the outcome of the Iraq – New Zealand game, South Africa manages to scrape through into the next round to probably meet Brazil. The world’s number one, Spain, progresses too. New Zealand and Iraq are out of the tournament.

Here’s the updated table for Group A

Group A	Team	Points
	Spain	9
	South Africa	4
	Iraq	2
	New Zealand	1