Dempsey Leads US to Historic Upset

Americans Take Down No. 1 Spain; Advance to First Ever World Final

June 24, 2009

By Nick Williams

Just four days after looking down and out of the Confederations Cup, with a coach that surely was about to lose his job, the US National Team stunned the No. 1 team in the world on Wednesday, Clint Dempsey’s goal capping a historic 2-0 win over Spain that sends the U.S. to the final of the tournament on Sunday.

The Americans, who did what they had to do in a desperation 3-0 win over Egypt on Sunday, looked nothing like the team that lost to Brazil and Italy in the beginning of the tournament. Their superb effort Wednesday ended Spain’s winning streak at 36 games, including a FIFA-record 15-game winning streak.

Former Rev Clint Dempsey had a hand in both US goals on Wednesday. (Chris ADUAMA/aduama.com

Now they have a date in the final against the winner of the Brazil-South Africa game, the first world final match for the USA at any level.

"It was a great team effort," Bradley told the world TV feed just minutes after the match. "To beat an amazing team like Spain and make the final, it's big. We played as hard as we could, and that's what it took. Every guy contributed, so it's a very good feeling."

The U.S. wasted no time in showing they were a far different team than the one that seemed disillusioned and unorganized last week. Jozy Altidore put the Americans on top, 1-0, in the 27th minute with a shot that tipped off the hand of Spanish goalkeeper Iker Casillas.

The U.S. survived a Spanish onslaught from there, with goalkeeper Tim Howard bailing out a pressured U.S. defense time and time again. Finally, the United States received some breathing room from Dempsey. The former Revolution striker battled for a misdirected Landon Donovan pass and buried it into the net from about six yards out at the 74 minute mark.

Dempsey actually had a hand with both goals, as the Fulham striker set up Altidore for the game’s first tally. Dempsey dribbled the ball up the middle of the field and played the ball to Altidore who was draped by Spain defender Joan Capdevila. Altidore showed great strength to fend off Capdevila, shielding him from the ball and breaking free just enough to fire a strike that caught Casillas leaning the wrong direction. The Spanish ‘keeper could only watch as the ball that tipped off his right hand rolled into the corner of the net.

Altidore received a yellow card for removing his shirt in celebration after. But it did little to quell the jubilation of the American side, which held on to the 1-0 lead through halftime.

After the break, the U.S. had to deal with a Spain team that seemed refocused and reorganized. Howard was tested time and time again, making eight saves overall, several of the diving variety.

The defense in front of him stood strong, led by captain Carlos Bocanegra who played his first game in the tournament, and Oguchi Onyewu who sacrificed his body numerous times to block or deflect shots in the goalbox.

Their resilience was rewarded when Dempsey and Donovan hooked up in the 74th minute. Donovan brought the ball up the right side sending a low cross that deflected off the foot of Spain fullback Gerard Pique right in front of the goal. When Sergio Ramos’ attempt at a clear resulted in little more than a nudge, Dempsey – like he did so many times with the Revs -- was there to pick up the trash, depositing the ball in the back of the net for a 2-0 lead.

The U.S. suffered a loss when Michael Bradley was red carded for a reckless tackle a few minutes later. Still, it was one of the only blemishes of the night for the Americans, who will be without the services of Bradley on Sunday.

The U.S. snapped Spain’s FIFA-record 15-game winning streak, and left Spain tied with Brazil (1993-1996) for the world’s longest unbeaten streak.

U.S. Men's National Team Match Report

Scoring Summary:
USA – Jozy Altidore (Clint Dempsey) 27th minute
USA – Clint Dempsey 74th

Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 21-Jonathan Spector, 5-Oguchi Onyewu, 15-Jay DeMerit, 3-Carlos Bocanegra (capt.); 10-Landon Donovan, 13-Ricardo Clark, 12-Michael Bradley, 8-Clint Dempsey (2-Jonathan Bornstein, 88); 9-Charlie Davies (22-Benny Feilhaber, 69), 17-Jozy Altidore (4-Conor Casey, 84)

ESP: 1-Iker Casillas (capt.); 15-Sergio Ramos, 3-Gerard Pique, 5-Carles Puyol, 11-Joan Capdevila; 10-Cesc Fabregas (20-Santi Cazorla, 68), 14-Xabi Alonso, 8-Xavi Hernandez, 18-Albert Riera (22-Juan Manuel Mata, 77); 7-David Villa, 9-Fernando Torres

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