Brazil Silence Spaniards in Maracana Masterlass

Brazil lived up to an enthralling atmosphere in the Maracana stadium and thrashed world Champions Spain in a wonderful display.

Fred scored twice but Neymar, player of the tournament from us at TSM, once againstole the show with an outrages strike with his left boot. The Spanish were already reeling and being knocked around easily by the hosts and then Barcelona centre back Gerard Pique summed up their night as he was sent off.

It was the third time in a row that Brazil have won the Confederations Cup and they took the lead within 2 minutes to stop the Spanish in their tracks as Fred slotted in while off balance. Neymar scored the second for Brazil with a sweet-struck shot which flew past Casillas just before half-time. Fred wrapped up an overwhelming victory shortly after the break with a first time shot.

Spain may have been outclassed by a buzzing Brazilian team, but they were by no means out of it until late on. Midfield magician Andres Iniesta was at the heart of it all, forcing a few saves from Julio Cesar and flummoxed the defence with the aid of Fernando Torres. Had they converted one of these chances, paired with the fact that Sergio Ramos tamely put a penalty wide and Gerard Pique got sent off, things may have been very different for them, but it was not to be.

Confederations Cup 2013: Italy Snatch Third Place From Penalties

Penalties would ultimately decide the Third Place for the Confederations Cup, and following a goalkeeping masterclass by Gianlugi Buffon, Italy would prevail over the South Americans.
 

It was a great starter in the evening dish of Confederations Cup latter stages with the final between World champions and hosts Spain and Brazil.

David Astori slotted in for the Italians to give them a deserved lead and then wanted boy Edinson Cavani equalised, his first of the night. Alessandro Diamanti curled a spectacular free kick in after  heavy Uruguayan pressure in which Suarez, Pereira and Forlan all tested Buffon with strikes. With twelve minutes remaining, and Italy on course for a third place finish, Cavani coolly smashed in a free kick to take the game to extra time.
 

Ricardo Montolivo was sent off during extra time for a second yellow card after a foul on Luis Suarez and the Uruguayan crowd erupted, the initiative was there for the taking. Suarez and co, though could not muster a winning goal and so it went to penalties.

Diego Forlan, Martin Caceres and Walter Gargano all had their spot kicks saved in a shootout masterclass from one of the world’s toughest ‘keepers to beat from 12 yards and Alberto Aquilani, Stephan El Shaarawy and Emanuele Giaccherini scored their spot-kicks to spare the blushes of  Mattia De Sciglio who missed but the result is all that mattered in the end.

Italy now claim Third Place in the Confederations Cup. A bigger question however, who will be first place?

Confederations Cup 2013: Group Stage Week One round-up

The Confederations Cup 2013 kicked off with Brazil taking on Japan on Saturday. Below, we review the first week of the tournament.

Brazil 3 : 0 Japan



A spectacular third minute goal by Barcelona new-boy Neymar set the tone for Brazil to romp to an easy victory over a Japan side featuring Shinji Kagawa and Keisuke Honda. Dani Alves crossed for Paulinho and Jo was sent clear by Oscar to add the finishing touches.

With less than a year to go until Brazil hosts the World Cup finals, this is a tournament that will act as a dress rehearsal for the South Americans – on and off the pitch with protests taking place in Brazil recently.

Japan had a few chances of their own with Honda and substitute Ryoichi Maeda but the result was never in doubt for the hosts. 

 
Italy 2 : 1 Mexico



Andrea Pirlo’s 100th cap was marked with the perfect start to the Confederations Cup in the Azurri’s first win over Mexico in 20 years. 

Pirlo himself got on the scoresheet after he smashed in a typical free-kick in the 27th minute. Javier Hernandez equalized for the Mexicans with a penalty seven minutes later but, unlike Hernandez, it was Mario Balotelli who took the headlines as he coolly fired in the winner in the 78th minute and was subsequently booked for removing his shirt in the celebration.

Uruguay 1 : 2 Spain



World and European champions Spain kicked off their Confederations Cup tournament with a masterclass win over Uruguay which was much more one sided than the scoreline suggests.

Cesc Fabregas struck the post before a deflected Pedro shot bobbled in after 20 minutes. Fabregas then set up Roberto Soldado to slot home with a magical pass before Liverpool striker Luis Suarez floated in a wonderful free-kick as a consolation for the fans in Recife.

Spain largely dominated the match with 92% possession after nine minutes gone and Suarez’s goal at the end was the only piece of quality that the Copa America 2011 winners showed.

Tahiti 1 : 6 Nigeria




Nigeria may have outclassed Tahiti on the field, but the South Pacific islanders were celebrating a historic goal scored by defender John Tehau.

Nigeria sprinted into a 3-0 lead with less than half an hour gone, Tahiti captain Nicolas Vallar scoring an own goal and Nnamdi Oduamadi grabbed a couple. The result was no doubt settled before a ball was even kicked as Tahiti, ranked 138th, made their Confederations Cup debut marked with a goal. John Tehau nodded in from a corner and it sparked wild celebrations in Tahiti and in the stadium for the fans. Oduamadi grabbed his third before Tehau scored at the other end and Echiejile added the sixth.