Altidore At It Again

1-0

Honduras travelled to Utah to play the United States in a World Cup Qualifier.  Team USA were not especially threatening in the first-half and only put one shot on target.  Clint Dempsey and Michael Bradley handled the midfield relatively effectively, but it was the striker Jozy Altidore who came through once again for the United States.

Late in the second-half fullback Fabian Johnson was able to make a cutting pass inside the box that Altidore was able to run onto an strike cleanly for the only goal of the match (73').  

The United States remain on top of their group, and look like they will qualify for 2014 World Cup in Brazil.  Up next is a friendly against Guatemala before the next qualifier rematch against Costa Rica.

More Misery for Mexico, Lose to Italy

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Mexico and Italy squared off in Rio De Janeiro today in their first matches of the 2013 Confederations Cup.  Italy got off to a better start and were first on the board thanks to a perfect freekick by the veteran Pirlo.  From about twenty-five yards out, Pirlo was able to lift the shot over the wall and get the ball to dip back down, upper 90º (27').

The lead was short lived as Italy conceded a penalty when defender Barzagli fouled Mexico's Dos Santos in the box.  Hernandez then finished form the spot to level the score (34').  Aside from scoring the penalty though, Hernandez was quite ineffective today and had only one other shot on target.  Dos Santos and Guardado were more involved throughout, but the Italian defense was too strong and shut down Mexico's attack for the remainder of the match.

The match was there for Italy's taking, and late in the second-half Mario Balotelli delivered the game-winning goal.  Giaccherini was able to flick a ball into the path of the striker and Balotelli powered through defender Rodriguez to get the shot away (78').  Not surprisingly Balotelli earned a yellow card for his celebration (taking his shirt off) but he was quickly substituted to make sure he was unable to see another card.

Brazil Open Confederations Cup With Win

3-0 

The 2013 Confederations Cup kicked-off today with host nation Brazil taking on Japan.  The Confederations Cup is like a preview/warm up for the 2014 World Cup and Brazil won the previous tournament in South Africa, beating the United States in the final.  As the host nation, there is a lot of pressure on Brazil and their young superstar Neymar who just signed a huge deal with Barcelona this off season.

The young forward got off to the perfect start today, scoring a fantastic goal on the first shot of the tournament.  Fullback Marcelo delivered the service that was brought down with a chest-trap by Fred at the edge of the box.  The chest-trap was laid off perfectly for Neymar who blasted a volley shot past the keeper for the only goal of the first-half (3').

Similar to the first-half, Brazil grabbed another goal just minutes into the second-half.  This time from the right side, fullback Dani Alves played a driven cross into the box that Paulinho was able to settle with his first-touch before firing a shot at goal.  The shot was towards the middle of the goal, but Japanese keeper Eiji Kawashima was slow to react and allowed the ball to slip under him and into the net (48').

One final goal was scored in stoppage-time for Brazil when Oscar was able to drive down the field and get defender Uchida turned around.  Oscar then slipped substitute Jo in-on-goal for an easy finish and a final score of 3-0 (90 +3').

Tomorrow Mexico will face Italy, then World Cup Champions Spain will take on Uruguay for two very exciting matches.

US Coast Past Panama in World Cup Qualifier

 2-0

Team USA were lucky to come away with in a win over Jamaica thanks to a late goal by substitute Brad Evans.  Today against Panama, team USA were much more convincing, winning 2-0.

Playing in Seattle, the US had a rather easy time dealing with the Panama attack as they put nothing on target until the final moments of stoppage-time.  Panama were forced to drop back for most of the match allowing team USA to work possession and attack the Central American visitors.

Michael Bradley initiated the first goal of the match when he played Fabian Johnson into space on the left flank.  The winger then crossed the ball to the far-post for Jozy Altidore who finished easily to put the US ahead (36').

After half-time team USA added a second goal when Eddie Johnson was played in behind the Panama defense by a great ball over the top from Geoff Cameron.  Eddie Johnson timed his run perfectly to stay on-sides and finished a clean shot to put the US further ahead (53').

The US are now on top of the CONCACAF group and face Honduras next week.  Nothing is assured, but as it stands the US look like they are destined for a trip to Brazil in 2014 World Cup

Bayern Munich Lift Champions League Trophy

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The all-German Champions League final promised to be exciting with rivals Bayern Munich and Borussia Dortmund squaring-off in London.  Bayern Munich already ran away with the Bundesliga title, a staggering twenty-five points clear of Dortmund in second-place, and had the added motivation after losing to Chelsea in last years final in their own stadium no less.

From the start of the match, Dortmund put the pressure on Munich and create all the early chances.  Lewandowski, Blaszczykowski, Reus, and Bender all had shots on goal that Munich keeper Neuer had to deal with.  Munich did start to work themselves into the match, but by half-time neither side were able to score.

After the break the game really started to open up, and Munich broke the deadlock when Mandžukić scored the first goal of the match.  Ribery played Robben into space at the end-line who then found the striker alone in front of the Dortmund goal for an easy finish (60').  The lead did not last long for Munich however, as a penalty was conceded when defender Dante made a sloppy challenge on Reus in the box.  Gündagon scored from the spot to level the score for Dortmund (67').

Though the score was now level, Munich were actually quite lucky with the call, or rather the lack of a call.  Dante had been booked in the first-half, and should have been booked again for the foul that led to the penalty.  For whatever reason he was not, and Munich were allowed to finish the match with all eleven players.

As regulation was about to expire, Robben came up big once again for Bayern Munich and scored the deciding goal.  A long-ball out of the back fell for Ribery who did well to trap and play Robben in-on-goal with a nice heel flick.  Robben finished comfortably to secure the Champions League trophy with almost no time left on the clock (89').

Not to say that Munich did not deserve the title, but allowing Dante to remain on the field was certainly a big factor in the final moments of the match.  There is no question that he should have been sent off with two yellow cards, which would have drastically helped Dortmund in the last twenty minutes of the match.

Bale's Late Goal Spares Spurs

1-0 

A late goal by Gareth Bale gave Tottenham a much needed three points today against Southampton.  With just a few games left in the season, every point is important as next season's Champions League is still undecided.  Chelsea, Arsenal, Everton, and Tottenham are all fighting for position in the table for a top-four finish.

Tottenham had been out-played by Southampton for most of the match and nobody for the Spurs had a shot-on-goal until the last five minutes of the game.  But the first shot-on-goal was not wasted as Bale was able to score the difference maker.  Coming across the face of goal on his left foot, Bale worked the space to blast a clean shot past the outstretched arms of the keeper (86').

Tottenham Hotspurs have just three games left in the season and their place in the Champions League remains uncertain.  Today's win is a step in the right direction, though the upcoming match with Chelsea midweek will have much bigger implications.

Barcelona Break-Down, Bayern Munich Coast

 7-0 

The all-German Champions League final is now assured as Bayern Munich easily handle Barcelona a second time.  Barcelona striker Messi played and scored over the weekend, but today he was left on the bench for the entire match.  True he was not very effective in the first game against Bayern Munich, but down four goals you expect the best finisher in the world right now to play.

Without Messi on the field, Barcelona were quite dull and rather predictable with their passing.  They also seemed to lack the spark that gives them confidence in these big games against top clubs.  Bayern Munich on the other hand were quite comfortable passing through the midfield and extremely organized in defense.

Barcelona were outplayed in the first-half and after the break Munich's lead further increased.  Robben was played into space wide right with a good pass out of the back by defender Alaba.  Cutting across to his preferred left foot, Robben was able to shake defender Adriano before curling his shot around the keeper and into the net (48').

As if the five goal deficit was not already insurmountable, a Barcelona own-goal completely killed their spirit.  Ribery was attempting to hit forward Mandzukic at the far-post, but defender Pique managed to get in-between the two Munich players.  However, his attempted clearance came off his shin awkwardly and settled in his own net (72').  Shortly after Müller scored a final goal for Bayern when Ribery played a cross to the far-post that he finished with a header (76').

Bayern Munich finished the semifinal round with an aggregate score 7-0 and advances to the Champions League final for the second straight year.  Munich are slight favorites against Borussia Dortmund and the two clubs play each other this weekend in the Bundesliga.  The outcome will have little effect on the league standings, but it should be a good preview of the upcoming final in London.