U.S. triumph over Spain helps image of football

JOHANNESBURG (AP) - The United States' amazing 2-0 victory over Spain at the Confederations Cup on Wednesday sent out a loud and clear message that no one, not even the world's top-ranked team, is guaranteed anything in this captivating sport, that no team is ever out of contention and that a 15-game winning streak doesn't put the ball in the net.

Look at this amazing sequence of results.

The United States loses 3-1 to Italy. Italy loses 1-0 to Egypt. The Americans beat the Egyptians 3-0 and then end Spain's 35-game unbeaten run and 15-match streak of victories to reach the Confederation Cup final.

Does this make any sense? Or is it simply more proof that football, the world's most popular sport, is still capable of throwing up the biggest surprises?

Now the Americans, seemingly on their way home after losing by two goals to Italy and by three to Brazil in their first group games, will march proudly to Sunday's final in Johannesburg against either host South Africa or five-time World Cup winner Brazil.

The Spaniards, who began with a 5-0 thumping of New Zealand before beating Iraq 1-0 and South Africa 2-0, are heading for the third-place playoff, the so-called loser's final, their unbeaten and winning streaks now torn to shreds.

"I can't explain it any more than you can," said American goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "Sports is funny sometimes, but when you put your mind to something, you can achieve it." Howard defied the Spaniards with a series of saves in the second half.

"The only thing that was going to get us through this game was sticking together, working hard and we did that. We rode our luck at times, they were a great team, they pushed us all the way to the limit but we took our chances well."

U.S. coach Bob Bradley showed that, while his players respect their opponents, his team is no respecter of reputations.

He sent his team out to play the game at a fast pace and, by crowding out their opponents in defense and midfield, did not allow the talented Spaniards room to create their interpassing moves.

They made even Fernando Torres, Xavi Hernandez and Cesc Fabregas look ordinary simply by giving them no space or time to work their magic. Although the Americans left huge spaces down the wings, the stars of Barcelona, Real Madrid and Liverpool couldn't find a way through the crowded center of the field.

Yet the men in all white created enough chances in the first eight minutes in Bloemfontein to suggest they were the ones with the long unbeaten record. Charlie Davies went close twice, Clint Dempsey shaved Spain's post and Spanish captain and goalkeeper Iker Casillas gestured to his teammates to calm down.

Suddenly this didn't look like the Spain that dominated and entertainingly won last year's European Championship and went on to stretch its unbeaten run into this tournament.

The strikes by Jozy Altidore and Dempsey were more than deserved because they reflected the commendable attitude of the underdog side not to cower beneath the superiority of a far more talented team.

This being a knockout game, the U.S. played this match on its own terms and the Spaniards took half the game to get into its stride.

After the break they used the width of the field to create chances but were repeatedly thwarted by well-timed challenges by Jay DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu. When they were beaten, goalkeeper Howard punched away long range shots or dived to palm them away.

While Howard once played for Manchester United and is now with Everton in England's Premier League, DeMerit and Onyewu have been playing in Europe for a while, although not alongside the Spanish stars at Real Madrid or Barcelona.

But this is their moment.

While Spain's stars probably wish they could go home instead of hanging around for the "losers' final" on Sunday against South Africa or Brazil, the Americans have a title to go for.