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U.S. upsets Spain to reach Confederations Cup final
Wednesday, June 24, 2009, 02:45 PM PST
[Soccer]
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AP) - The United States ended Spain's record winning streak with a 2-0 upset victory Wednesday that gave it an unlikely but deserved place in the Confederations Cup final.
Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey exposed a sluggish Spanish defense and Tim Howard make several quality saves to stop Spain's record run at 15 wins and put the Americans into their first FIFA men's final at any level. Altidore took a deflected pass from Dempsey in the 27th minute, turned Joan Capdevila and beat Iker Casillas with a shot that bounced off the goalkeeper's hand and into the net. Spain was caught on the break when Landon Donovan crossed into the goalmouth where two defenders misplayed the ball before Dempsey slotted it home in the 74th. "We knew we had to pick and choose our moments to go forward," Dempsey said. "We're happy with the result and we know we're going to have our work cut out to get anything out of the final." The Americans, who will face either Brazil or host South Africa in Sunday's final, survived despite playing the final minutes without Michael Bradley, who was sent off in the 87th for a lunging tackle.
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