Water Cooler:2009 FIFA Confederations Cup Live Blog - USA vs. Italy

It really sucks that this game has to follow the 4-3 classic between Brazil and Egypt, with the Brazilians emerging victorious.

Last time the US played Italy it finished in a bloody 1-1 draw in the 2006 FIFA World Cup. They've never won against the Italians, 0-3-3 all-time. Both sides are bringing in their top guns for this tournament, so hopefully the game is somewhat close.

[edit] USA Starting Lineup (4-5-1)

GK: Tim Howard

Defenders: Jonathan Spector, Oguchi Onyewu, Jay DeMerit, Jonathan Bornstein

Midfielders: Clint Dempsey, Benny Feilhaber, Ricardo Clark, Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan

Forwards: Jozi Altidore

[edit] Italy Starting Lineup (4-3-3)

GK: Gigi Buffon

Defenders: Gianluca Zambrotta, Nicola Legrottaglie, Giorgio Chiellini, Fabio Grosso

Midfielders: Gennaro Gattuso, De Rossi, Andrea Pirlo

Forwards: Vincenzo Iaquinta, Alberto Gilardino, Mauro Camoranesi

Let's go!!

Pittsburgh GunnyMajor Leaguer

177 days ago

Score 2

C'MON LOS GRINGOS! USA!

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

2nd minute: Low cross into the penalty area was cleated away by Onyewu. Clint Dempsey is down.

I absolutely hate those horns they play in the stadium. Sounds like bees.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

5th minute: Lots of hesitant play so far. A little bit of chippiness.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

9th minute: Free kick for the US about 30 meters from goal. Dempsey strikes it high of the crossbar. This team blows at set pieces.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

177 days ago

Score 0

I love the name of this town they're playing in: Pretoria. That's just a flat-out cool name.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

177 days ago

Score 0

http://en.wi...torian_Guard

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

Hahahaha that is awesome.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

10th minute: Pirlo lofts the ball towards the back post. But Camoranesi has poor execution and whacks it out of play and no danger for Tim Howard. US follows that up with a garbage cross for Altidore.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

12th minute: Gilardino heads it down for Iaquinta, takes the shot quickly, Howard makes the easy save. Not really many clear cut chances to start.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

13th minute: Fabio Grosso nearly beat Jonathan Spector trying to play it through on goal but the West Ham defender takes the ball away and clears. Right now Italy is getting the lion's share of possession.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

15th minute: Jozi Altiodre is well offside. Well we're 15 minutes in and it's a typical Italian football game. Lot's of long ball and no actual attacking interest regardless of formation.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

17th minute: Spector making a forward run? Haha. Altidore played it for him but it was cut off by Italy. Everything the US does pleases John Harkes.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

19th minute: This is unconfirmed but apparently a partial Premier League schedule for next season has been released. Arsenal play West Ham and Sunderland play Manchester United.

Camoranesi is moving down the right flank and is brought down by Bornstein and earns a yellow card. Definitely a booking for tugging on the jersey.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

20th minute: Nicola Legrottaglie gets a wide open header thanks to inept marking by Jonathan Spector and it's put wide of the near post. Close call and probably the best chance of the game.

Landon Donovan Landon Donovan Landon Donovan. I hate hearing his name called as if he's the US' savior.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

23rd minute: We got to be playing for a goalless draw. This is uninspiring play. Dempsey is down again and limping a little bit.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

177 days ago

Score 0

I'm sick of the constant horn blowing already.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

It's like a Chivas USA game. Seems to be popular in South Africa.

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

177 days ago

Score 0

So we're going to have to deal with it all next summer during the WC? FACK!

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

Yeah it is annoying. They have to ban that. I prefer ultras and natural fan noise.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

25th minute: Really impressed with Ricardo Clark's defending so far. Could be a consistent starter. Donovan plays it for Michael Bradley!! Soft shot but enough to give Buffon trouble. First save of the game for him. Best chance for the US.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

27th minute: The wave! Whoo hoo! US forced to concede a throw-in deep into their own half under Italian pressure.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

29th minute: Donovan delivers a great ball for Altidore! He's in on goal!!! OH WHY DID YOU DO THAT?! He tried to pass that instead of shoot it. That should've been the opening goal.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

31st minute: Free kick for the Italians. Pirlo takes it and Howard spills the save but out of serious danger. Corner for the Italians. Pirlo takes the corner as well and Gilardino is mugging Onyewu so a foul is called.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

33rd minute: Gattuso is brought down roughly by Clark....and to the yellow card. The announcers in Bristol have just been speculating that he may have gotten a red card. Oh boy they showed a replay. HORRIBLE CHALLENGE!!

CLARK IS OFF!!!! RED CARD!!! Can't disagree with that. US down to 10 men.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

36th minute: Donovan got elbowed and here's a huge free kick opportunity for the US. Either Donovan or Dempsey to strike it. It's 25 meters from goal. Donovan goes for goal and sucks again. Over the wall and wide of the net.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

38th minute: Oh my word a horrible own goal by Bornstein. That is terrible. But the flag is up as the man he was marking was offside. No goal.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

40th minute: PENALTY?!!! COME ON!! ALTIDORE WENT DOWN!!! CHIELLINI BROUGHT HIM DOWN AND THE US HAS A PENALTY!!!

Donovan takes it and scores! US in front! The only thing he is good at has got the US in the lead!

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

42nd minute: John Harkes and JP Dellacamera have a hard-on for Donovan. Italy just starts attacking right away. Foul on the attempted bicycle kick. Michael Bradley fires from about 30 meters and that's saved by Buffon.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

44th minute: Horrible header down by Donovan in his own half is picked up by Grosso. Takes a weak shot on goal that Howard collects.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

Halftime in Pretoria. Landon Donovan scores on the penalty kick for the only goal of the match. US is down to 10 men after Ricardo Clark got sent off for a rough challenge on Gattuso. You can't say they didn't deserve this lead as they've played decent football while Italy has struggled.

USA 1 Italy 0 HALF

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

Alexi Lalas is a smug bumbling moron. Why does ESPN employ him?

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

2nd half underway. No substitutions for either side to start.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

48th minute: Great touch by Iaquinta to bring the ball down but DeMerit stops the ball right outside the penalty area to avoid a potential shot on goal. US sloppy to start the 2nd half.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

53rd minute: Another US player injured. Think it's Altidore and it is. Taken down by Zambrotta.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

54th minute: It is a free kick because of that foul and a good chance for the US. The result? NOTHING EVER HAPPENS WHEN DONOVAN TAKES THE FREE KICK!!! It's always headed away our out of play.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

58th minute: Here's Giuseppe ROSSI!!!! GOAL!!! BEAUTIFUL LEFT-FOOTED STRIKE!!! HE JUST CAME IN AS A SUBSTITUTE AND TIM HOWARD HAD NO CHANCE!!! BORN IN NEW JERSEY, HE PLAYS FOR ITALY AND SCORES THE EQUALIZER!!!

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

BTW Ricardo Montolivo and Rossi were subbed in minutes before the goal. Camoranesi was subbed out but haven't a clue who the other person was.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

64th minute: Relentless pressure from Italy and they've been given WAY too much space.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

Altidore is out, Charlie Davies in. Come on we're playing for a 1-1 draw I'm guessing.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

67th minute: Pirlo takes a right-footed shot, parried away by Howard and Iaquinta blasts it just over the bar! It's all Italy at the moment.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

69th minute: Pirlo gets cut down by Benny Feilhaber. Dumb dumb dumb foul.

Luca Toni in and Gilardino goes out. Italy's final subtitution.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

71st minute: Long shot by Daniele De Rossi!!! 2-1 Italy. It has been coming, the US has come undone. Crap. Fire Bob Bradley.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

DeMarcus Beasley is coming in for Benny Feilhaber. US has one more sub. Italy has zero.

No offensive creativity. No imagination. Italy may score even more.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

77th minute: Italy is doing whatever they want and the US has just collapsed. Probably the best chance to get at least a draw and Bob Bradley blew it. Only a miracle can give the US a point the way they're playing.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

80th minute: Dempsey shoots from distance right at Buffon, who saves it a little awkwardly. Decent effort.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

81st minute: Horrible reckless challenge by Legrottaglie. Barreled over Donovan in the box. No penalty. Come on.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

84th minute: Dempsey is hanging onto Chiellini, who heads the ball off the corner kick well over the crossbar.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

Sacha Kljestan in for Bornstein. Final substitution. Finally an offensive player!

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

87th minute: Italy is sparing the US by just holding the ball deep in the American end of the field. If Italy wins it will be the first time since 1993 that the US has lost after leading at halftime.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

88th minute: WIDE OPEN HEADER for Luca Toni. Come on. Didn't catch it cleanly so Howard collects easily.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

89th minute: CURLING SHOT BY KLJESTAN!! Just missed. Very good effort.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

90th minute: First corner kick for the US. It took until the 90th minute. Fire Bradley. Davies snaps his head around the ball but doesn't come close to the target. Actually hit him on the top of the head.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

90 +1 minute: What a ball by Andrea Pirlo to De Rossi who shoots! Oh big save by Howard. 4 minutes of stoppage time.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

90 +2 minute: Counter attack for Italy. Chance to end it with LUCA TONI!!! BIG SAVE BY HOWARD AGAIN!!! JUST BRILLIANT!! Saves the game for now.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

90 +3 minute: WHAT A TURN BY PIRLO!! He creates space and sends it for GIUSEPPE ROSSI!! His 2nd goal. 3-1 Italy. Game, set and match. Fire Bob Bradley.

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SSreportersLegend

177 days ago

Score 0

Game over.

Brazil and Egypt can gladly tear the US apart over the coming days. Ten men or not this was a pathetic 2nd half. To remain objective, Italy is really really really good. You knew they wouldn't stand down forever and they pulled through.

Next set of games is on Wednesday with Spain vs. Iraq and South Africa vs. New Zealand.

Italy 3 USA 1 FINAL

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

176 days ago

Score -4

Thrilling. I was hardly able to hold on to the edge of my seat just reading this. Reading this running blog was much more enthralling than watching it, especially with your wit and ceaseless humor coloring beautiful images of amazing soccer action in my mind. Some people may say soccer is boring... well, they should read this live blog debate and they will change their minds!

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RawbeezeitzMajor Leaguer

176 days ago

Score 3

If you don't like soccer, and you don't like reading what SSR writes, why the hell would you read SSR writing about soccer? Seriously, can you not find anything better to do then read someone's writing that you don't like about a sport you care nothing for?

I used to not like you, now I flat out pity you.

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

176 days ago

Score -3

Thansk for sharing your thoughts. Too bad you're a troll that likes to troll and trolls at every trolling opportunity.

If you don't care what I say and you pity me, perhaps you should pity yourself more for feeling the need to share your thoughts with me.

BTW- I was saying something fucking nice, dildobreath. Can't I compliment SSR with some sarcasm without YOU feeling the need to share your narrowminded opinion with me? Troll site scout somewhere else, Troll.

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SSreportersLegend

176 days ago

Score 1

I completely agree Manny. No one should share their thoughts with you. Thanks for the compliment! I really appreciate that after the rough initial start on ArmchairGM!

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Manny StilesMajor Leaguer

176 days ago

Score -2

Well, with my irrepressible ego and megalomania, WHY would you think I would read anyone's comments anyway?

Duh!

Backhanded compliments are still better than a backhand.

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