Fans cheer for Confederations Cup
Fans cheer for Confederations Cup
A supporter of Italy cheer before the Group B match between Brazil and Italy at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, June 21, 2009.(Xinhua/Xu Suhui)
Supporters of Brazil cheer before the Group B match between Brazil and Italy at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, June 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
A supporter of Italy cheers before the Group B match between Brazil and Italy at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, June 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
A supporter of Brazil holds a mock trophy before the Group B match between Brazil and Italy at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, June 21, 2009.(Xinhua/Yang Lei)
A supporter of Italy holds a placard showing a combination of a picture of Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro (L) and of herself before the Group B match between Brazil and Italy at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, June 21, 2009. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)
Confederations Cup: U.S. team fumes over red card
Confederations Cup: U.S. team fumes over red card
Referee Pablo Tozo, center, asks USA's Ricardo Clark, right, to leave the field after giving him a red card as USA's Landon Donovan, left, tries to argue, during their Confederations Cup Group B soccer match at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Monday, June 15, 2009.(AP)
PRETORIA, South Africa – Following the USA's 3-1 loss to Italy in their opening game at the Confederations Cup, the American players pointed to Ricardo Clark's red card as the pivotal moment. And more than a few of them voiced their opinion about the decision handed out by Chilean ref Pablo Pozo.
"Anybody watching the game will know it wasn’t a red card," said U.S. striker Landon Donovan after the game. "The referee, after the game when he watches it, will know it isn’t a red card. Eleven guys from each team were prepared to play the game but the guy in the middle wasn't. That was unfortunate because we wanted to put on a good show."
Clark was shown his marching orders for a foul on Gennaro Gattuso in the 28th minute, when the game was lively and still even at 0-0.
"I think it was a bad call," Clark said. "It was definitely a foul, possibly a yellow, but definitely not a red. It affects the whole game. It obviously put us at a disadvantage."
Even Gattuso admitted Clark's action probably didn't deserve an ejection. His teammate Giuseppe Rossi, who subbed on in the second half before scoring two goals for the Italians, was more certain in his opinion, though he was on the sidelines at the time.
"Truthfully, I don't think it was a red card," the Italian-American said. "It was more of a yellow card. But that’s how soccer is."
Jozy Altidore, who set up the penalty that led to the U.S.'s goal, believed the timing of the red card was disappointing. And the Villarreal striker even insinuated Pozo's decision was influenced by Gattuso's theatrics after the fact.
"It was a bit harsh, so early in the game," he said. "Yeah, it was a tough tackle. It was late, but he had no intention of hurting anyone. It was good acting and there you go. That's how the cookie crumbles."
Ultimately, the U.S. team fell victim to the man-up Italians, tiring as the second half wore on. Clark's absence in the middle opened up spaces that the Italian midfield exploited, leading to both of Italy's first two goals.
Italy beaten by Brazil 3-0 in Confederations Cup
Italy beaten by Brazil 3-0 in Confederations Cup
Italian defender Fabio Cannavaro (L) fights for the ball with Brazilian midfielder Kaka during their FIFA Confederations Cup football match at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria. Brazil sliced Italy apart with three goals in a devastating eight-minute spell to send the world champions crashing out of the Confederations Cup.(AFP)
Brazil's Fabiano stops the ball during a Group B match at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, June 21, 2009. Brazil won the match 3-0. (Xinhua/Xu Suhui)
Brazil's Maicon (R) vies with Italy's Mauro Camoranesi during a Group B match at the FIFA Confederations Cup in Pretoria, South Africa, June 21, 2009. Brazil won the match 3-0. (Xinhua/Yang Lei)
PRETORIA, June 21 (Xinhua) -- South American champions Brazil denied Italy's chance to march into the semi-final of the FIFA Confederations Cup on Sunday by thumping the World Cup winners 3-0 in their final group match.
In the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, Brazil repeated their habit of beating Italy just as before when Selecao Brasileira (Brazilian Selection) won their two FIFA World Cup final fuels in 1970 and 1994.
Compared with the Azzurri whose defense seemed porous from the outset, Brazil produced a stunning display of their prowess by enjoying better possession of the ball in the first half.
Their blitz of less than 10 minutes was spurred by Luis Fabiano in the 37th minute. The Sevilla striker intercepted a low shot from Maicon on the left and slided the ball into the bottom corner.
Fabiano's second chance came six minutes later.
He slot the ball home at the far post after an excellent build-up from Robinho and Kaka.
The third goal was a mistake by Italian defender Andrea Dossena who put the ball past his own goalkeeper when trying to cut out a cross.
The three scores put Brazil in a firm control of the match before the interval, and enabled Italy to walk on a tightrope to go back home.
Althouth the Azzurri recovered a little in the second half, their efforts to score were all foiled by the saves of Brazilian goalkeeper Julio Cesar in time.
Before the fuel with Brazil, Italy had three points, the same as Egypt who had a match against the United States on Sunday in Rustenburg.
The Azzurri's hope to sail into the next stage became slimmer after their 1-0 defeat by African champions Egypt in the South African economic hub of Johannesburg on Thursday.
It was also a new record in African football history as Italy had never lost to an African team, despite more than a dozen of attempts from the football cradle continent.
Brazil will face the challenge of hosts South Africa in Johannesburg on Thursday in the semi-final of the intercontinental tournament.
Celtics survive scare, beat Nets 106-104
Celtics survive scare, beat Nets 106-104
Boston Celtics' Stephon Marbury goes to the basket past New Jersey Nets' Devin Harris during the first half of an NBA basketball game in Boston Wednesday, April 8, 2009. (Agencies)
BOSTON – Rajon Rondo had 31 points, nine rebounds and five assists, and the Boston Celtics overcame an early 10-point deficit and a last-minute scare to beat the New Jersey Nets 106-104 on Wednesday night.
The Celtics, coming off four days of rest, assured themselves of a lead over the Orlando Magic in the race for the No. 2 seed in the Eastern Conference. The win also kept Cleveland from clinching the best record in the East — at least for another game.
Vince Carter had 33 points and 12 rebounds for the Nets, who were eliminated from the playoff race when Detroit beat New York earlier Wednesday night.
Boston played its fifth straight game and 18th of 22 without forward Kevin Garnett, who is recovering from a strained right knee. Coach Doc Rivers said Garnett would travel with the team to Cleveland for Sunday's game but would not play.
Boston led 106-99 with 1:11 left, seemingly coasting to the victory, before New Jersey scored the next five points — the last five of the game, it turned out. Carter hit a 3-pointer, then picked off a pass from Rondo and went the rest of the way before hanging in the air for a one-handed layup with 50 seconds left that made it 106-104.
Paul Pierce missed a 3-point attempt — he was 0-for-3 from beyond the arc and scored just 10 points — and the Nets brought it down with a chance to tie or win.
But Carter missed a step-back 3-pointer with 8 seconds left, and after the Nets tipped out the rebound Devin Harris tried a long 3. Ray Allen corralled the rebound and dribbled out the last few seconds.
New Jersey led 20-10 with 5 minutes left in the first quarter and 31-21 at the start of the second when the Boston scored 11 of the next 14 points. The Nets held a 45-44 lead late in the second quarter before Boston scored seven straight, including Ray Allen's 3-pointer, and went on to take a 56-47 lead.
New Jersey tied it in the third quarter and again in the fourth but never led.
Notes:@ Rivers is eyeing a possible Monday return at practice for Garnett. ... Boston F Brian Scalabrine was activated for the game, but did not play. ... Boston is 12-1 when Rondo scored at least 20 points. ... Ray Allen hit Tony Allen with an alley-oop for a reverse dunk with 1:57 left in the third to give Boston a 79-75 lead.
Team trained for Paragliding World Cup
Chinese National Paragliding Team trained for Paragliding World Cup
The picture taken on April 2, 2009 shows a member of the Chinese National Paragliding Team carries her parachute after a training session at a base near Fuyang city, east China's Zhejiang province. The Chinese team has finished their first stage of training early April after having recruited new members and will fly to Croatia in June for the Paragliding World Cup. (Xinhua/Wu Linhong)
The picture taken on April 1, 2009 shows members of the Chinese National Paragliding Team participate in a training session at a base near Fuyang city, east China's Zhejiang province. The Chinese team has finished their first stage of training early April after having recruited new members and will fly to Croatia in June for the Paragliding World Cup. (Xinhua/Wu Linhong)
The file picture taken on April 2, 2009 shows a member of the Chinese National Paragliding Team participates in training sessions at a base near Fuyang city, east China's Zhejiang province. The Chinese team has finished their first stage of training early April after having recruited new members and will fly to Croatia in June for the Paragliding World Cup. (Xinhua/Wu Linhong)
The file picture taken on April 1, 2009 shows a member of the Chinese National Paragliding Team participates in a training session in the sky near a base in Fuyang city, east China's Zhejiang province. The Chinese team has finished their first stage of training early April afterhaving recruited new members and will fly to Croatia in June for the Paragliding World Cup. (Xinhua/Wu Linhong)
Members of the Chinese National Paragliding Team during a training session at a base near Fuyang city, east China's Zhejiang province.
The Chinese team has finished their first stage of training early April after having recruited new members and will fly to Croatia in June for the Paragliding World Cup.
