The US Hockey victory over Finland is one of the greatest footnotes in the history of sports. When "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" hasn't been beaten to death by ABC and Regis was still there, a question worth either $250,000 asked the contestant to name who the US beat in that Gold Medal game. Ask who the US beat in the Miracle on Ice? Lucky to be worth more than $1000, even on the dumbed down version of the show that competed with "Once Life to Live" and "The View" for an audience.
How the 2009 Confederations Cup goes down in US Soccer lore remains to be seen, but one thing is for certain. The good guys lost....unless your from Brazil, then get the hell off my blog and go celebrate in Rio. Actually, you can stay, it's
not like anyone else will be reading.This game I made sure I did not miss a single second of the game. If the USA was going to beat the nation that is one of the greatest footballing nations of all-time, I would be watching. I mean it would be by myself from a quite comfortable position on my couch, but it would have taken a natural disaster somewhere within a 100 feet of me to interrupt my private viewing party. I was taking no chances.
What me, myself and I witnessed was something out of a fairytale for the first 45 minutes. After Brazil held the ball up in the USA third of the field, the Red, White and Blue broke out the patented counter-attacking that brought them through past Spain. Right-Back Jonathan Spector curled a ball in, Clint Dempsey was on the end of it and millions of soccer fans across the globe just pinched themselves just 10 minutes into the final.
The US looked the better side for a spot after their goal, but there was no one denying Brazil's brilliance. Well, actually there wasn't no one, there were five of them. The back line and the undeniably awesome Tim Howard did not give anything up. Any ball that wasn't cleared out was parried or held by the Everton keeper.
Suddenly, with Brazil looking content to hold the ball up and slowly work their way in, got sloppy. Landon Donovan stole the ball in the US third and embarked on the greatest US journey since Lewis & Clark, BC guy Charlie Davies being his expedition partner. After the two's give-and-go, the ball was on Landycakes left foot and he calmly slotted home past Cesar.
At this point I could have been considered for a one-way ticket to a white-padded room I was so giddy. Did I mention I was watching the game solo?
As I mentioned, as did this guy, the back line was unstoppable in the first 45, and Spector was showing the world what Sir Alex Ferguson saw in the young American in what was his first game in defense.
But alas, all good things must come to an end, and a Luis Fabiano strike came barely a minute into the second half. The Americans continued to push but it just wasn't happening again.
The Brazilians finally tied the game in the 61st, but remarkably the score remained 2-1 USA as Howard saved the ball from within his own goal but neither the linesman nor the referee was able to see it. Ahh the beauty of the pace of a game versus slow motion.
Despite the stroke of luck, the Miracle on Grass round 2 was not to be as Fabiano made it a brace for him and tied the score in the 74th. Any other day and I am ecstatic of the Sevilla man's scoring knack but come on man! Your just torturing me now! And a golden boot to, well, boot!
At this point it was always to be seen the result. The US hold on for the next 16 minutes and then Brazil have 30 more in extra-time. Maybe it goes to the US if they can force penalties, but when you go from 2-0 up to playing for penalties in less than an hour, it is not looking very good. Of course Lucio obliged, heading home the winner in the 85th as Howard was left powerless.
Sure the result didn't go the way the cliche that is American Soccer fans wanted and the USA was denied their first FIFA championship....ever, but for the first time I will advocate the moral victory. The Stars and Stripes prevailed over the reigning European Champions and dominated the number one team in the world for 45 minutes.
If the US can keep the nucleus together, this kind of experience and unity could just maybe be just what they need for international success. The next trip to South Africa will be the true test.
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