MOTD- Italy 4-3 Japan

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Italy have claimed a spot in the Confederations Cup semifinals after coming back from two goals down to beat Japan in a thrilling contest at the Arena Pernambuco, with the slim win putting the Azzuri tied on six points with Brazil in Group A. Cesare Prandelli’s side were down 2-0 by the thirty-third minute but showed spirit to come back and continue their six match unbeaten run.

Japan surprisingly started the match brightly, controlling the match in the opening twenty-minutes. Although the Asian side were unlucky to see Ryoichi Maeda’s six-yard header blocked by Italy goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon, their fortunes drastically changed in the twenty-second minute when Mattia De Sciglio ‘s mishit back-pass rolled right into the path of Shinji Okazaki. Okazaki looked sure to collect the ball and score, but Buffon was amazingly quick off his line and managed to tackle the ball away just before Okazaki touched it. To the dismay of the Italy players, referee Diego Abal wrongly awarded Japan a penalty, ignoring Buffon’s vigorous arguing, which earned the goalkeeper a yellow card.

Keisuke Honda coolly slotted the penalty into the corner of the net, and Japan continued to push forward. Yet another mistake from the Italy defense allowed Japan to stunningly double their lead in the ten minutes later, with Giorgio Chiellini mistiming a headed clearance, letting the ball bounce over him. It bounced in the middle of the crowded Italy box, before Manchester United midfielder Shinji Kagawa beautifully turned and hit a powerful low side-volley into the bottom corner of the Italy net. Japan pushed even farther forward, and Italy failed to create any chances until they surprisingly grabbed one goal back. Andrea Pirlo’s corner from the right found Daniele De Rossi at the front post, who rose up to hit a thumping header into the back of the net. The goal energized the Azzuri, and Emanuele Giaccherini almost grabbed Italy the equalizer, with the midfielder’s close range shot slamming off the crossbar deep into first half stoppage time.

Italy kept up their high energy level at the start of the second half, and Prandelli’s side equalized in the fiftieth minute. Giaccherini skipped past a Japan defender down the byline, and attempted to cut the ball back to Mario Balotelli. Stuto Uchida came reached out on the slide to intercept, but ended up kicking the ball past a helpless Eiji Kawashima into the back of his own net. Two minutes Italy completed the astonishing comeback, with Sebastian Giovinco’s shot bouncing of the underside of Makoo Hasebe’s leg and slightly grazing the defender’s arm that was coming down to break his fall. The referee absurdly called the penalty for handball, and Balotelli sent the keeper the wrong way with the PK, coolly slotting home Italy’s third.

Japan refused to except defeat though, with Okazaki rising above Riccardo Montitovo to meet Yasuhito Endo’s free-kick from the right at the near post, glancing a powerful header past Buffon into the back of the net. The match looked to be headed for a draw even though Italy were pressing high, but De Rossi was slipped in down the right of goal and cut the ball across to Giovinco, who passed the ball into the back of the open net from point-blank range. Japan still refused hoped for a last gasp equalizer, and got the ball in the back of the net in the last minute of regular time, only for the goal to be disallowed for offside. Moments later the full-time whistle blew, sealing Italy a spot in the semifinals.
Man of the Match: Daniele De Rossi

Tuesday Match Roundup

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Today there have been some excelent matches, including the European Under-21 Championships final.  So here are the scores.

European Under-21 Championships
Italy U21 2-4 Spain U21- Even Spain’s Under 21s win the European Championships.  Looks like they be one of the best for years to come

World Cup Qualifying – Concacaf
United States 1-0 Honduras- Whew.  The US all but seal there place in the 2014 World Cup!
Costa Rica 2-0 Panama

World Cup Qualifying – AFC
South Korea 0-1 Iran
Uzbekistan 5-1 Qatar- Things look bleak for the 2022 World Cup host’s as they fail to qualify for the 2014 World Cup
Australia 1-0 Iraq
Jordan 1-0 Oman

MOTD- USA 1-0 Honduras

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USA have all but sealed their long-desired place in the 2014 World Cup by claiming a vital win over Honduras in the final stages of qualifying. The win takes the United States into first place in the Concacaf qualifying group, with the only chance left of Jurgan Klinsman’s side not making it to the finals is if they lose their final game and Honduras win theirs, which would leave the teams tied on ten points.

The match in hand began as a tense affair, and although Honduras looked slightly more dangerous in the opening minutes, the United States still looked dangerous on the attack. Klimsman’s side used the wings to support their offensive threat, and after the Honduran goalkeeper Noel Valladares tipped Clint Dempsey’s flicked header from Fabian Johnson’s cross, the Fulham midfielder headed just wide at the back post from a corner. Eddie Johnson managed to get a toe on Fabain Johnson’s low cross in the sixteenth minute, producing a sharp save from Valladares to push the ball clear as the US began to push forward.

Although the US tried to find gaps Honduras did a good job of closing them down, making the game even more sloppy and disjointed. Honduras started to find their stride toward the end of the half, and Andy Najar’s powerful shot from the edge of the box following a counter-attack forced American goalkeeper Tim Howard into a good save to punch the ball wide.

Honduras’ bright spell ended at the beginning of the second half tough, allowing the US to pressure a bit higher up the field in the scorching hot weather. Brad Even’s header at the back post from Graham Zusi’s cross from the wing caused Valladares trouble, but the goalkeeper clutched the ball at a second attempt. In the sixty-fourth minute the US nearly opened the scoring in a goal-mouth scramble following Zusi’s corner, but Honduras managed to clear the ball to safety despite replays showing former Tottenham player Wilson Palacios clearly handling the ball during the mayhem. Seven minutes later Dempsey had his header at point-blank range from Zusi’s cross somehow pushed away by Valladares, only for the ball to fall to Michael Bradley, who’s follow up shot whizzed just over the bar.

The goal finally did come, with Jose Altidore giving the US a vital lead in the seventy-fourth minute. Zusi brilliantly flicked a pass into the run of Fabian Johnson down the left side of the Honduras box, and Johnson cut it back to Altidore, who coolly passed the ball into the far corner of the net. Although Honduras tried to grab an equalizer in the final minutes, the US managed to hold on to the lead, extending their run of going of not losing on American soil in World Cup qualifiers since 2001.
Man of the Match: Zusi

MOTD- Tahiti 1-6 Nigeria

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Tahiti have avoided suffering major embarrassment by scoring a goal in their first ever Confederations Cup match, a 6-1 loss to Nigeria. The tiny South Pacific island, ranked 138th in the Fifa World rankings, lost to the 2013 African Cup of Nations winners ranked 31st by Fifa, although at least less then they were expected to lose by. Tahiti, who usually struggle to attract 100 fans to their matches, put up an inspiring performance in their first match of their first global football competition, and although a losing caused Nigeria worries when on the attack. The Tahitian side, only consisting of one professional, Maram Vahirua, took on the mighty African side at the Estadio Mineirao, with the Oceanic nation unsurprisingly dropping to last place in Group B.

Although the Eddie Eteata’s unsteady side looked hopeful before the start of the match, they cruelly went down within five minutes of kickoff when an attempted clearance was accidentally blocked by the referee and fell to Nigeria’s Elderson. The defender’s fierce shot deflected off the thigh of Jonathan Tehau, before the chest of Tahiti’s Nicolas Vallar unfortunately diverted the ball past a helpless Xavier Samin into the back the defender’s own net. Nigeria looked to be enjoying themselves as they danced around their inferior opponents, and the African side doubled their lead in the tenth minute when a misplaced Tahiti pass allowed the Super Eagles to intercept the loose ball. They worked it up to Nnamdi Oduamadi, who beat two players before curling a cool shot into the top corner of the net from eight yards. Oduamadi then made it three in the twenty-sixth minute by poking the ball into the back of the open net after Samin spilled Ahmed Musa’s cross.

Nigeria seemed to be taking the game casually, and after wasting multiple wonderful opportunities allowed Tahiti to score a consolation goal shorty after the start of the second half when Vahirua’s lofted corner the head of Tehau at the back post, who blasted a low header into the back of the net. But Nigeria inevitably scored a few more goals, the first of which came in the sixty-eighth minute when Tehau accidentally turned the ball into his own net from a Nigeria cross. Oduamadi tapped home Brown Ideye’s cross in the seventy-sixth minute, before Echiejile slammed home Nigeria’s sixth goal in four minutes later. Tahiti whthered the remaining storm though, managing to hold on to a 6-1 loss.
Man of the Match: Nnamdi Oduamadi

MOTD- Spain 2-1 Uruguay

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Spain have easily won their first 2013 Confederations Cup fixture, keeping 71 percent of possession during their Group B match against Uruguay at the Arena Pernambuco. With the win Vincent Del Bosque’s side have taken up first place in Group B, ahead of Nigeria, Tahiti, and of course, Uruguay.

The narrow scoreline failed to justify Spain’s heavy dominance throughout the match, which began right at kick-off, with Del Bosque’s men playing their usual tiki-taka style football. Cesc Fabregas nearly put Spain in front after ten minutes, but the Barcelona midfielder saw his low effort from the edge of the box narrowly miss crossing the line after bouncing across the goal-line after smacking the inside of the post. La Roja continued to pressure Uruguay though, and found themselves up in the twentieth minute after a Spain corner was cleared as far as Pedro, who’s fierce effort from twenty-yards took a heavy deflection off the outstretched leg of Diego Lugano to direct it past a helpless Fernando Muslera into the back of the net.

Uruguay continued to pose little threat to Spain, who doubled their lead ten minutes later in the thirty-first minute when a cute pass from Fabregas found Roberto Soldado on the edge of the box. Soldado teed the ball up for a shot, and curled a beautiful strike past an upcoming Muslera into the back of the net.

Although Spain relaxed La Roja nearly found a third goal moments into the second half, with Pedro coming inches away from Soldado’s cross. As Spain continued to dominate possession both sides threatened to score less and less, until Luis Suarez gave Uruguay a consolation goal in the eighty-seventh minute. The Liverpool forward wonderfully curled a free-kick from the left through a gap in the wall and into the corner of the net, proving himself more adept to scoring goals for his country than biting Chelsea defenders. Despite the hope the goal gave Suarez’s side, they failed to take grab en equalizer before the end of the game, with Spain seeing ought their first win in their first match of the competition.
Man of the Match: Cesc Fabregas

MOTD- Brazil 3-0 Japan

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Brazil have kicked of the 2013 Confederations Cup with a win over Japan, which saw The Selacao come together nicely to finish off an inferior Japan side in the first ever international match that had goal-line technology. Luiz Scolari’s side scored in the first and last moments of the game to help them top Group A in the first match of the World Cup 2014 preparation tournament.

The hosts of the tournament began the match confidently stroking the ball around the back, but surprisingly found themselves in front only three minutes into their first competitive match in 700 days. Marcelo’s driven long ball from the left flew straight to Fred, who chested it down for Neymar to sweetly hit a stunning volley from the edge of the box into the top left corner of the net. Japan responded well to the goal though, surprisingly passing their way around Brazil and creating chances with their good movement causing the hosts problems. Yuto Nagatomo tried his luck at a long range free-kick in the sixth minute, and his dipping effort bounced before Brazil goalkeeper Julio Cesar, who smartly palmed the ball away.

Although Japan looked dangerous, Brazil even more so, with Scolari’s side seeing most of the ball. Hulk almost forced an own goal out of the Japan side after charging down the right and sending in a low which deflected off the leg of a Japan defender and forced goalkeeper Eiji Kawishima to awkwardly kick the ball away. Hulk again almost opened the scoring after breezing by Nagatomo, but the Zenit Saint-Petersburg forward saw his low driven shot fly inches wide of the post from the edge of the box.

Brazil continued to search for a second goal in the start of the second half, and found themselves two goals up seconds after the restart. Dani Alves’ cross from the right fell to Paulinho, who turned with he ball before firing a low shot from sixteen yards past Kawishima into he back of the net. Japan put pressure on Brazil after going further behind with Okazaki somehow shooting inches wide of the post from six yards out. But Brazil slowly continued to breach down their Asian opponents, and netted a third with the last kick of the game. Oscar broke forward on a counter-attack and slipped a brilliant brought ball in to the run of Jo, who took a touch before poking it past Kawishima into the back of the net. Seconds later the referee blew for full time, with Brazil earning their first competitive win in over two years.
Man of the Match: Neymar

Manuel Pellegrini confirmed as Manchester City manager

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Manchester City have confirmed the long awaited appointment of Manuel Pellegrini as the successor of Roberto Mancini, with the Chilean manager promising to bring a “new cycle and a new style” to the English club. Pellegrini, who set a goal to lead City to the Premier League and Champions League titles in his first season at the club, has signed a three-year £3.4 million a year deal at the Etihad, nearly two weeks after leaving his post at Malaga. Although having signed personal terms at City when first leaving Malaga, Pellegrini’s appointment had been delayed because Malaga had failed to find a suitable replacement for the Chilean. But in the wake of the Spanish club appointing Bernd Schuster as manager, City announced Pellegrini’s appointment in a statement on their official website.

City will expect Pellegrini to bring them European as well as domestic glory, with the signings of Fernandinho fro Shakhtar Donestk and Jesus Navas from Sevilla underlining their expectations for the 59-year-old. The former Malaga manager has had experience on the European level after leading Malaga to the Champions League Quarterfinals last season in the Spanish club’s first ever Champions League campaign, a key feature which caught the attention of City, who have failed to qualify from the group stages in the past two seasons.

Pellegrini is currently on holiday, and will take up his post as manager on June 24, bringing with him assistant manager Rubén Cousillas, the goalkeeping coach Xabier Mancisidor and fitness coach José Cabello.

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