Confederations Cup Games 9 & 10: Predictable

Group A of the Confederations Cup wrapped up on a sour note this evening in South Africa, with a dour 0-0 draw between Iraq and New Zealand; combined with an expected 2-0 loss by the hosts to Spain.

Both games were in play, but as Spain have run away with the group, the European champions’ meeting against hosts South Africa in the Free State Stadium was expected to be a stroll. South Africa, on four points after beating the Kiwis, didn’t need a result; they just needed to hold the score as low as possible in case Iraq beat New Zealand. They did just that, with both teams noodling about much of the first half.

The one flash of excitement came ten minutes into the second, before David Villa finally broke the deadlock in the 52nd minute. Aaron Mokoena conceded a penalty kick in the 51st, pulling down Cesc Fabregas, which Villa stepped up to take, only to see keeper Itumeleng Khune make a huge save, and then keep Carlos Puyol’s rebound out as well. But on the ensuing restart, Villa chested downa fine Cesc lob, turned sharply and fired it past the helpless Kaizer Chiefs keeper to the far corner. A terrific goal to decide a walking pace game with Fernando Llorente adding the insurance in the 72nd.

The loss wouldn’t matter, as an exhausted-looking Iraq were tested by an already eliminated New Zealand side with nothing to lose in Johannesburg. The All-Whites’ Glen Moss, who had had a miserable tournament to date, made three major saves to preserve a 0-0 draw and consign the Asian side to the tourney dustbin.

The Kiwis never looked much above the level of say, St. John’s, which is not a compliment. Yet, against an Iraq team that needed to go forward, they had some chances — nearly all of which were spectacularly whiffed by Celtic man Chris Killen. Shane Smeltz also had a chance on a late breakaway, only to utterly miss the ball. Iraq at least put the ball on net in the final ten minutes, with Salih Sadir forcing Moss to make a huge stop, but the comedy gold moment came when Karrar Jassim’s shot stuck Moss in the head, and stayed out. Iraq also had one cleared off the line, but that small bit of effort couldn’t make up for 80 minutes of impotence.

The matches put to an end the poorest group stage in the tournament. Spain scored eight goals, while the Kiwis conceded seven. Neither Iraq nor New Zealand scored a single goal. And South Africa? They got a 2-0 win against a lousy New Zealand side. They look dreadful, and for their trouble are likely to face Brazil in the semifinals.