An absolutely incredible series of events occured today in South Africa. Brazil beat Italy 3-0 with a late 1st half explosion. The United States beat Egypt 3-0. That meant that the U.S.'s goal differential was 1 better than Egypt and the U.S. was tied with Italy for goal differential. Afterwards, the next tie-breaker is total goals scored in the tournament. The U.S. scored 4 goals in the Confederations Cup. Italy only got 3. That's right! The United States has advanced to the semifinals and they will play Spain on Wednesday! No typo exists in that statement! And for your viewing pleasure, here is all that transpired in the past 2 hours.
First, it was Davies giving the U.S. a 1-0 lead.
What followed a few minutes later was nothing short of "capital punishment" in the capital city of Pretoria, as Adrian Healey called it. Get ready for an end-of-1st-half Brazilian style blitzkreig.
Gotta love the hilarity of some own goals! But that not withstanding, at halftime of both games, the score was 3-0 Brazil and 1-0 U.S. If the U.S. got 2 more (and assuming Italy and Egypt did not score), the U.S. would surpass Egypt and tie Italy in goal differential. The tie breaker would be goals scored, and if the U.S. got the 2, they (and Italy did not score again and Egypt did not score as to mess up the goal differential), would have one more goal scored than Italy and that would be enough to advance. Here's what happened.
MICHAEL BRADLEY!
And then....the unthinkable.....
CLINT DEMPSEY!
And that would be all of the goals scored today! The United States has pulled off one of the most miraculous end of group stage performances I have ever seen in my life. The United States of America is in the semifinals! Let me say that again, THE UNITES STATES OF AMERICA IS IN THE SEMIFINALS!
Truly, truly remarkable.
And if only that BBC guy who did the U.S.-Egypt game on BBC was doing the game for ESPN.....he was giving me goosebumps as I was watching the videos on YouTube.
Steve Wilson was doing the commentary for the BBC.
ReplyDeleteLike ESPN he was in a studio but he's great.
Forgive my launguage, but HOLY SHIT! After Thursday when they were talking about the odds I thought the Americans had no chance at all. Like you said, that's what's great about group play. I would love to see the NCAA tournament do it one year.
ReplyDeleteI'm taking Odds right now that Brad James somehow spins this result into a BCS take in the thread AA has about the game. I'm setting the odds right now to start at 11-2....
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