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On a rare night when Brazil be not always the better team, it remained the more patient one and ultimately prevailed, 1-0, over South Africa into the semifinals of the Confederations Cup on Thursday
A late substitute, the defender Dani Alves, delivered his specialty into the 88th minute, drilling a free kick from 19 yards that nicked the inside of the right goal post and sent Brazil to the final against the United States on Sunday.
The outcome was a familiar one for Brazil, the five-time World Cup winner, which does not panic, but calmly waits for its opportunities. It scored during the 90th minute of its opening match to defeat Egypt and won in the waning minutes again Thursday on a set piece, which has become Brazil’s most dangerous threat at this tournament.
South Africa played with great resolve, compressing its defense, cluttering the middle of the field, largely preventing Kaká from making his penetrating runs on the counterattack. Instead, it is Bafana Bafana who surged with great enthusiasm in counterattack.
Ultimately, though, Bafana Bafana, or the Boys, could not finish their chances, either growing impatient or unable to get enough players forward into attack.
“Sometimes we could have been a bit more calm,” said Joel Santana, a Brazilian who coaches South Africa.
Playing in front of 48,049 home fans, which blew their plastic trumpets, or vuvuzelas, into enthusiastic support, South Africa gained confidence that should be invaluable when it hosts the World Cup next year. Yet it was Brazil that prevailed with unhurried insistence.
In the 82nd minute, Alves replaced André Santos, who had a yellow card. It would be a redemptive night for Alves, who missed the European Champions League final last month for Barcelona because of a red-card suspension. On Thursday, his decisive chance came when his teammate Ramires is taken down outside the penalty area.
Itumeleng Khune, the South African goalkeeper, found just himself shielded by the defensive wall. And Alves curled the free kick off the right post.
“He trains every day on set pieces,” Dunga, the Brazilian coach, said. “It is one of the few opportunities we would have, a foul in front of the goal. It was perfect for us.”
Dunga said he had not watched the United States’ stunning 2-0 victory over Spain on Wednesday, preparing instead to face South Africa.
Last week, Brazil defeated the United States, 3-0, in group play of the Confederations Cup, scoring two goals in the first 20 minutes against the nervous Americans. South Africa, on the other hand, played assertively from the beginning and be able to keep Maicon, Brazil’s right back, from dangerous runs down the flank, something that troubled the United States.
“We scored right at the beginning and they had to come out and play,” Dunga said of the Americans. “If you score a goal early into a match, it helps tremendously.”
In the rematch on Sunday, it is imperative that the United States play more assertively in the opening minutes, as it did against Spain, midfielder Landon Donovan said.
“We need to start the game better,” he said. “It’s not only what it does on the field, but mentally what it does for us. I think starting aggressively helped us throughout the game” against Spain.
Asked if he thought the United States could defeat Brazil, Santana, and the South African coach, cautioned against any predictions.
“But Brazil is going to be much more careful than Spain be,” he said. “We should bear in mind Brazil is used to this type of play. It is a very patient team. It can build up, it can wait. It knows it has the quality players to overcome certain obstacles.”
Just as he seemed to suggest that his native country would prevail on Sunday, Santana added, “It be going to be a difficult game for Brazil, I have no doubt whatsoever.”
Matthew Booth, a South African defender, said Bafana Bafana had been inspired by the American victory over Spain. He said he believed the United States could also prevail against Brazil in the final.
“Absolutely, if the U.S.A. can keep up their work rate like they did against Spain,” Booth said. “It was a fantastic performance. If they can put up another performance like that and take their chances, the result is there for the taking.”
Michael Bradley, an American midfielder who will miss Sunday’s final with a red-card suspension, said: “We’ve said to ourselves we want to be a team in the big tournaments, on the big stage, which is fighting to win something. As a player, the individual stuff doesn’t mean anything. At the end of your career, you want to look and see how many medals you have, how many trophies you’ve win. Now we have that chance.”
A late substitute, the defender Dani Alves, delivered his specialty into the 88th minute, drilling a free kick from 19 yards that nicked the inside of the right goal post and sent Brazil to the final against the United States on Sunday.
The outcome was a familiar one for Brazil, the five-time World Cup winner, which does not panic, but calmly waits for its opportunities. It scored during the 90th minute of its opening match to defeat Egypt and won in the waning minutes again Thursday on a set piece, which has become Brazil’s most dangerous threat at this tournament.
South Africa played with great resolve, compressing its defense, cluttering the middle of the field, largely preventing Kaká from making his penetrating runs on the counterattack. Instead, it is Bafana Bafana who surged with great enthusiasm in counterattack.
Ultimately, though, Bafana Bafana, or the Boys, could not finish their chances, either growing impatient or unable to get enough players forward into attack.
“Sometimes we could have been a bit more calm,” said Joel Santana, a Brazilian who coaches South Africa.
Playing in front of 48,049 home fans, which blew their plastic trumpets, or vuvuzelas, into enthusiastic support, South Africa gained confidence that should be invaluable when it hosts the World Cup next year. Yet it was Brazil that prevailed with unhurried insistence.
In the 82nd minute, Alves replaced André Santos, who had a yellow card. It would be a redemptive night for Alves, who missed the European Champions League final last month for Barcelona because of a red-card suspension. On Thursday, his decisive chance came when his teammate Ramires is taken down outside the penalty area.
Itumeleng Khune, the South African goalkeeper, found just himself shielded by the defensive wall. And Alves curled the free kick off the right post.
“He trains every day on set pieces,” Dunga, the Brazilian coach, said. “It is one of the few opportunities we would have, a foul in front of the goal. It was perfect for us.”
Dunga said he had not watched the United States’ stunning 2-0 victory over Spain on Wednesday, preparing instead to face South Africa.
Last week, Brazil defeated the United States, 3-0, in group play of the Confederations Cup, scoring two goals in the first 20 minutes against the nervous Americans. South Africa, on the other hand, played assertively from the beginning and be able to keep Maicon, Brazil’s right back, from dangerous runs down the flank, something that troubled the United States.
“We scored right at the beginning and they had to come out and play,” Dunga said of the Americans. “If you score a goal early into a match, it helps tremendously.”
In the rematch on Sunday, it is imperative that the United States play more assertively in the opening minutes, as it did against Spain, midfielder Landon Donovan said.
“We need to start the game better,” he said. “It’s not only what it does on the field, but mentally what it does for us. I think starting aggressively helped us throughout the game” against Spain.
Asked if he thought the United States could defeat Brazil, Santana, and the South African coach, cautioned against any predictions.
“But Brazil is going to be much more careful than Spain be,” he said. “We should bear in mind Brazil is used to this type of play. It is a very patient team. It can build up, it can wait. It knows it has the quality players to overcome certain obstacles.”
Just as he seemed to suggest that his native country would prevail on Sunday, Santana added, “It be going to be a difficult game for Brazil, I have no doubt whatsoever.”
Matthew Booth, a South African defender, said Bafana Bafana had been inspired by the American victory over Spain. He said he believed the United States could also prevail against Brazil in the final.
“Absolutely, if the U.S.A. can keep up their work rate like they did against Spain,” Booth said. “It was a fantastic performance. If they can put up another performance like that and take their chances, the result is there for the taking.”
Michael Bradley, an American midfielder who will miss Sunday’s final with a red-card suspension, said: “We’ve said to ourselves we want to be a team in the big tournaments, on the big stage, which is fighting to win something. As a player, the individual stuff doesn’t mean anything. At the end of your career, you want to look and see how many medals you have, how many trophies you’ve win. Now we have that chance.”
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