BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa — The world will surely take notice of this: The U.S. soccer team is in the final of the Confederations Cup, beating mighty Spain 2-0.
Even more stunning, the Americans were on the verge of elimination and ready to head home last weekend before a reversal of fortune. On Wednesday, goals by Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey led to an upset of the world’s top- ranked team.
By winning, the maligned United States advanced to its first men’s FIFA final since starting play in 1916.
Altidore scored in the 27th minute and Dempsey added a goal in the 74th as the Americans became the first team to defeat Spain since Romania in November 2006.
“It goes to show what hard work and commitment to each other can bring,” said U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard, whose team was outshot 29-9. “Sometimes football is a funny thing.”
Now the U.S. will play defending champion Brazil or host South Africa in Sunday’s final. That semifinal will be played today.
Midfielder Michael Bradley, son of U.S. coach Bob Bradley, will miss the final. He received a red card for a late challenge in the 87th minute.
Spain, the European champion, had set an international record with 15 consecutive victories and had tied Brazil’s record unbeaten streak of 35 games from December 1993 to January 1996.
The United States had been 1-7-1 against No. 1 teams, beating Brazil in the 1998 CONCACAF Gold Cup and tying Argentina last summer in an exhibition at Giants Stadium.
“This is an accident, a little step backward,” Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said.
Altidore, a 19-year-old forward from New Jersey, got the first goal when he outmuscled Joan Capdevila, his teammate on Spain’s Villarreal, to send an 18-yard shot in off the hand of goalkeeper Iker Casillas.
It was the first goal against Spain in 451 minutes, since Turkey’s Semih Senturk scored April 1, and just the third goal the Spaniards allowed in 17 games dating to last summer’s European Championship.
Dempsey sealed the victory, scoring from 6 yards when he pounced on Landon Donovan’s cross.
Miracle on grass
The story behind the Americans’ shocking upset of Spain:
• Spain, the European champion, was riding an international record with 15 straight victories and had tied Brazil’s record unbeaten streak of 35 games.
• Spain was the only team that had yet to allow a goal in the tournament.
• The U.S. was 0-3-0 previously vs. Spain.
• The U.S. was 0-6-1 in its previous seven games against teams ranked in the top 5 in the world.
• Against teams ranked No. 1 in the world, the U.S. was 1-7-1 in its past nine games and 0-5-1 in its past six.
