Some Kind of Miracle(s)

Most people in the United States could care less about soccer, but they do so love a winner. Maybe that's the problem with US Soccer, the lack of trophies, or even good results. Well, then here's something for you. Sunday the US Men's National Team will play for the Confederations Cup Championship against either Brasil or South Africa (most likely Brasil). This will be their first ever final in a major tournament (they have played in several consolation games, even placing third in this tournament several years ago). Those that have paid attention already know that it has not been an easy road. The US lost their first two games of the tournament 3-1 to Italy and 3-0 to Brasil. They needed a miracle to make it out of the group stages to the semi-finals. Not only did they need to beat Egypt by three, but they needed Brasil to beat Italy by three. That would tie the US, Italy, and Egypt all with three points in the group, since Egypt had managed to beat the Italians 1-0 last week, and the US would advance on goal differential (difference between goals scored and goals allowed for you non-soccer types). Well, the US got their six goal swing as both the US and Brasil won 3-0. This got the US to the semi-final...against Spain. A Spanish team that is currently ranked number one in the world, has won 15 straight games, and hasn't lost a game in their last 35. I thought the US would do well to not be embarrassed, afterall they hadn't beaten a number one team since 1999 when we beat Brasil 1-0 in the United States. They played an inspired 90 minutes and did something most teams dream of, they held the Spaniards scoreless. The defensive line was beyond outstanding, while the US managaged carefully planned counterattacks that resulted in two goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey. The US were opportunists, and they made the most of them. Does this rank up there with the US hockey teams victory over Russia in the Olympics? I don't know. Spain is a team with that kind of dominance and the US, while not highly ranked (number 14 according to FIFA), isn't that kind of an underdog. Who cares, it was awesome and inspired. I damn near had several heart attacks watching, but it's games like that that are the reason I love the game. You don't always have to be the best in the world, just the best in the stadium...and yesterday they were.

The Starting XI
Top(L to R): Spector, Demerit, Bradley, Howard, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Demsey
Bottom(L to R): Davies, Donovan, Clarke, Altidore

Altidore scores in the 27th minute to make it 1-0.

The celebration after Dempsey's goal in the 74th minute seals the victory.

Full time, US wins 2-0.