Dempsey condemns Spain to first defeat in three years

Spain 0 United States 2

Caption competition
Caption competition
View past winners of our Sports caption competition
News in pictures
News in pictures
On Facebook
Sport blogs

Hertha Berlin and the Skibbe saga – a depressing tale

Perhaps, in a few decades time, some German writer will transform Michael Skibbe's excruciatingly br...

Top 14: Day of reckoning looms for Racing Metro

By the middle of Wednesday afternoon we should have the first indication of what lies ahead for Raci...

iBet: Barcelona are struggling away from home

My betting instinct in any first leg of a two-legged tie is to go low on goals, and that applies eve...

The United States will contest the Confederations Cup final after causing a huge upset in Bloemfontein last night by inflicting Spain's first defeat since 2006. Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey scored the goals as the US, having lost their opening two games in the tournament and only squeezed through Group B by the skin of their teeth, set up a final showdown against either Brazil or South Africa on Sunday.

The result was one of the biggest shocks in recent international history, with the Spanish having broken the record for consecutive wins with their 15th on the trot against South Africa at the weekend. The European champions would also have claimed the record for the longest unbeaten run if they had avoided defeat last night, having drawn level with Brazil's run of 35.

Even the 86th-minute dismissal of Michael Bradley – son of coach Bob – could not deny the US, who were left to celebrate a famous victory.

The US goalkeeper, Everton's Tim Howard, said: "We all know about the US beating England back in the World Cup in 1950 but this result, in the semi-finals of a major Fifa competition watched by millions around the world, has to rank right up there among the greatest upsets of all time."

The Spain coach, Vicente Del Bosque, said: "We are not used to losing any longer. Every defeat hurts. Today we needed the final touch. We had many opportunities but they really closed the door on us."

The Americans started brightly and the Spain goalkeeper Iker Casillas found his goal under threat from Altidore and Charlie Davies early on. Cesc Fabregas then sent a dipping shot over the bar before he threaded over a superb cross that Fernando Torres was just unable to convert.

That was all in a breathless opening 12 minutes, and both sides continued to push forward before the US took the lead through Altidore in the 27th minute. Dempsey played the ball into his strike partner on the edge of the box and the 19-year-old was allowed to turn Villarreal team-mate Joan Capdevila far too easily before firing in a shot that Casillas got his hand to but could not keep out.

With their record in danger, Spain came out in the second half with all guns blazing. Just two minutes after the restart Howard produced a superb save to tip away Villa's effort.

But Spain could not find the breakthrough, and their hopes of reaching the final were crushed when the US scored again in the 74th minute. Donovan's low cross should have been cleared by Ramos at the far post, but Dempsey showed quick reactions to prod the ball away from the Real Madrid defender and past Casillas. Bradley was shown a red card for a heavy challenge on Alonso, but by then it was all over.

Spain: Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Capdevila, Pique, Puyol, Xavi, Fabregas (Santi Cazorla, 68), Alonso, Riera (Mata, 78), Torres, Villa. Substitutes not used: Diego Lopez, Albiol, Arbeloa, Marchena, Pablo, Busquets, Silva, Llorente, Guiza, Reina.

US: Howard, DeMerit, Spector, Bocanegra, Onyewu, Clark, Dempsey (Bornstein, 88), Davies (Feilhaber, 69), Donovan, Bradley, Altidore (Casey, 84). Substitutes not used: Guzan, Pearce, Califf, Wynne, Beasley, Kljestan, Adu, Torres, Robles.

Referee: J Larrionda (Uruguay).

Independent Comment
blog comments powered by Disqus

Day In a Page

The 10 Best sledges

The 10 Best sledges

Not all of them require snow...
Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy

Procrastination: Not now – I'm busy

Confronting the real reasons for puttting things off can help us beat it
Fun in the sunset years

Fun in the sunset years

A new movie follows retirees moving to India for low-cost care and a culture of respect for the elderly. For many Britons, it's already a reality
Picture preview: Lucian Freud drawings

Lucian Freud drawings

Picture preview
Silent revolution at the Baftas as the French take top awards

Silent revolution at the Baftas

The Artist wins in seven categories, with Meryl Streep the other big success story
Whitney Houston: The diva who had – and lost – it all

The diva who had – and lost – it all

Nick Hasted charts the highs and lows of Whitney Houston's life
How Picasso won over (some of) the British

How Picasso won over (some of) the British

Winston Churchill and Evelyn Waugh hated his work, but Picasso provided inspiration for a whole generation of UK artists
Topshop: A Decade Of Design

Topshop: A Decade Of Design

When London Fashion Week starts on Friday, Topshop will celebrate 10 years backing its brightest young stars
John Prescott: 'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

'My wife thought I'd just retire, but I'm not a slippers man'

At 73, John Prescott isn't mellowing. In fact he's taking a shot at becoming a police commissioner
Jim Gamble: We are losing the race to protect our young

Jim Gamble: We are losing the race to protect our young

Technology and the children who use it won't wait for slow-moving child-protection services and police to catch up
Sarah Sands: A friend is not the one you turn to, but the person who turns to you

Sarah Sands on friendship

A friend is not the one you turn to, but the person who turns to you
Andy Burnham: 'It's a genie out of the bottle moment'

Andy Burnham interview

'It's a genie out of the bottle moment'
Leveson: What we've learnt so far

Leveson: What we've learnt so far

Ingenious hacks, shifty editors and attacks of Sudden Memory Loss Syndrome – Matthew Bell assesses the state of play at the Royal Courts of Justice
Modern lovers: The 'sexual body warriors' and pioneers transforming 21st-century relationships

Modern lovers: The 'sexual body warriors'

Sarah Morrison meets the people redefining love in the 21st century.
'I was angry, so angry': How heartbreak, betrayal and Su Pollard helped Estelle find pop success

Estelle: 'I was angry, so angry'

The singer talks about heartache, betrayal and bouncing back.