The South Americans repeat as champions but not before the US took them to the distance The final day of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa produced eight goals and two comebacks, as Brazil and Spain turned the tables on the US and South Africa respectively. An action-packed competition got the final it deserved at the Ellis Park Stadium in Johannesburg, with Brazil and the US serving up a five-goal thriller which ended in the Seleç�o's favour, courtesy of Lucio's 84th-minute header. Yet, as was described by fifa.com, it was the American underdogs who had looked the most likely to take the honours at the interval, having raced into a two-goal lead thanks to Clint Dempsey and Landon Donovan. However, the five-time World Cup winners grabbed a vital lifeline just moments into the second period through adidas Golden Shoe winner Luis Fabiano, who subsequently took his tally to five goals in five games with the 74th minute equaliser which set up his skipper's grandstand finish. When matchwinner Lucio lifted the trophy, he also created history for Brazil's Dunga, who became the first person to win the tournament as a player and a coach. In the play-off for third place, any fans leaving Rustenburg's Royal Bafokeng Stadium early will be kicking themselves after a match which failed to ignite until South Africa stung Spain into action through Katlego Mphela's 73rd minute opener. With Bafana Bafana all but ready to occupy the final place on the podium, two goals in a minute from La Roja's Daniel Guiza spun the scoreline on its head, only for Mphela to level matters in the third minute of added time. Clear chances came and went for the hosts in the first period of extra- time before Xabi Alonso's 107th minute free-kick eluded everybody before nestling in the back of the net to clinch third spot for La Selección. Before the tournament began, Luis Fabiano said that he would score in every match. Although he drew a blank against the USA the group stages and South Africa in the semi-final, a double against Group B rivals Italy and again at Ellis Park ensured that he averaged a goal a game to pick up the adidas Golden Shoe. Relatives of two famous figures evoked differing emotions during the final. Before the game, Marc-Scott Foe, the 14-year-old son of Marc-Vivien Foe, read an emotional tribute in which he thanked the football family for the support his family had received since his father's death. The former Cameroon star collapsed in the centre circle during the Confederations Cup semi-final six years ago against Colombia and died soon after arriving in hospital. Then at the end of the match, there were cheers for Zenani Mandela, the great grand daughter of Nelson Mandela who carried the trophy on to the stage for the award ceremony. Trophy-winning Brazil have duly provided the two men honoured with the most valuable individual accolades at the Confederations Cup in South Africa. Kaka took the adidas Golden Ball as best player, with compatriot Fabiano going home with the adidas Golden Shoe as the tournament's top scorer. The two attacking stars provided the tournament's moments of magic. The very sight of Kaka's name on the team sheet is enough to strike fear into a defender's heart these days. Like so many former legends who have worn the illustrious number 10 shirt, the Brazil playmaker was the orchestrator and string-puller in attacking midfield. His sublime assist to level the scores at 2-2 in the final, as he left two defenders rooted to the spot with an explosive burst of pace, must go down as one of the pivotal moments in the Seleç�o's march on the trophy. The 2007 FIFA World Player of the Year emphatically restated his credentials as one of the modern greats. Brazil were in trouble at 2-0 down after 45 minutes, but Fabiano rose irresistibly to the challenge, netting twice to bring his team right back into it and lay the foundation for the South Americans' successful trophy defence. The athletic, lithe and technically gifted striker finished with an impressive five goals from five games, underlining his status as the undisputed number one goal-getter both for the current Seleç�o line-up and at the tournament in general. The 28-year- old joins Romario, Ronaldinho and Adriano as the fourth Brazilian to go home from the Confederations Cup with the adidas Golden Shoe. Singling out an individual from an outstanding USA team is a hard task, but if one man stood tall above the rest, it was the Clint Dempsey, the dangerous Fulham midfielder. The 26-year-old contributed three vital goals to the North Americans' utterly commendable tournament, but was arguably even more valuable as a consistent source of unpredictable and inspirational ideas. One or two opponents may have gravely underestimated the US as a potent attacking force, but Dempsey's superb touch and ability to make the difference will have teams around the world thinking again. The USA star rates as one of the biggest discoveries of the 2009 event. The Spanish marksman Fernando Torres, who took the Silve Shoe, struck three goals at the tournament, all of them in an action-packed 660-second blitz. In the European champions' opening match against New Zealand, Torres blasted a hat-trick between the sixth and 17th minutes, employing his blistering pace and killer instinct to devastating effect against the bewildered Kiwis, and doubtless sparking panic among future opponents at the Festival of Champions. However, opposing bosses and defenders clearly did their homework, as the 25-year-old Liverpool ace failed to hit the target a fourth time at the tournament. The Bronze Shoe went to David Villa, also of Spain. The striker, fondly nicknamed Guaje by the Spanish fans, continued his habit of scoring crucial goals for his country. Against New Zealand, Villa played a supporting role to Torres with just a single goal, but in the next two games against Iraq and South Africa, he netted a winner and an opener respectively. No-one seriously doubts the 27-year-old's class, a fact underscored by his passing of a milestone during the event: Villa became the second-highest scorer in the history of the Spanish national team behind living legend Raul. Bob Bradley's US team came within an ace of glory at the Confederations Cup, making a mockery of the pre-tournament betting. Their triumphant march into the final was in no small measure due to a series of truly outstanding performances by Tim Howard, who consistently left opposing strikers cursing in dismay. Everton's No 1 combined calm authority with formidable presence of mind, visibly steadying his defence when the going got tough. For his heroics, Howard was the Golden Glove for best goalkeeper. With an eye on the 2010 World Cup Howard looks set to provide the USA with a rock- solid last line of defence. The Fair Play Award went to Brazil. The Seleç�o thrilled the watching world with football that was as graceful as it was effective, playmaker Kaka and top scorer Fabiano leading the way as the South Americans deservedly retained the trophy. The passionate crowds took Dunga's star-studded ensemble to their hearts, and the Brazilians' power to captivate fans and followers of the game everywhere was, is and remains to their eternal credit. FCC in numbers Total attendance: 584,894 Average attendance: 36,556 Number of goals: 44 Goal average: 2.75 Most goals scored: 14 Brazil Least goals scored: 0 Iraq 0 New Zealand Most goals conceded: 9 USA Least goals conceded: 1 Iraq Number of penalties: 3 (2 converted, 1 missed) Number of own goals: 1 Goals scored by substitutes: 8 (out of 44, 18.18%) Goals first half v. second half: 20 v. 24 -goals in additional time 1st half: 0 -goals in additional time 2nd half: 2 Goals in first 10 minutes: 5 (11.36%) Goals in last 10 minutes: 8 (18.18%) Top goalscorer: 5 LUIS FABIANO (BRA) Youngest goalscorer: 19y 7m ALTIDORE Jozy (USA), 24.06.2009 (Spain - USA) Fastest goal: 5' KAKA (BRA), 15.06.2009 (Brazil - Egypt) Highest number of assists: 3 ABU TREIKA Mohamed (EGY) 3 CAPDEVILA Joan (ESP) 3 ELANO (BRA) 3 MAICON (BRA) Highest wins: 0 - 5, 14.06.2009 (New Zealand - Spain) Highest-scoring matches: 4 - 3, 15.06.2009 (Brazil - Egypt) Highest number of wins: 5 Brazil Highest number of defeats : 3 South Africa 3 USA Number of yellow cards : 50 (avg/game 3.13) Number of red cards : 4 (avg/game 0.25) Most yellow cards : 10 South Africa 10 Spain Least yellow cards : 2 Iraq Egypt can shine in the Med Games
