And it looks like Canada has obtain their place in the quarter-finals of the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

Canada, who won their opening games against Jamaica and El Salvador, secure a top spot in Group A.

Costa Rica took the lead in the 22nd minute when Andy Herron cut inside from the right wing to fire home, but Canada quickly turned the game on its head as Patrice Bernier equalised almost immediately.

Marcel de Jong’s long-range effort then put Canada ahead before Walter Centeno’s free-kick earned Costa Rica a share of the spoils.

This is Haiti’s first Gold Cup win since 2002.  Fabrice Noel’s goal gave the Haiti team a 1 to 0 score at half time. Then on the 78^th minute, James Marcelin added the second, giving Haiti a 2-0 victory over Grenada in CONCACAF Gold Cup group play.

Noel’s goal came off a free kick by Brunel Fucien into a crowd in the middle of the penalty area. Noel deflected it into the net.

Marcelin took a pass from Raymond Ednerson, beat a defender at the top left-hand corner of the penalty area, and then converted his one-on-one chance against goalkeeper Desmond Noel.

 With goals by Quaranta and Ching in the second half, the USA Team moves on at the 2009 CONCACAF Gold Cup.

On the 75^th minute, Santino Quaranta broke the scoreless game. Then shortly after, Brian Ching scored with a header.

The two-time defending champion are now on the verge of the Gold Cup quarterfinals as they stand atop of Group B with six points.

Next, the U.S will play against Haiti on Saturday.

Canada’s defense kept El Salvador’s strikers from any real goal attempts, and by the final quarter of the game, there was virtually no good scoring opportunities.

With Canadian’s Ali Gerba’s goal in the 32^nd minute, Canada strengthened its hold on Group A of the CONCACAF Gold Cup.

The goal was Gerba’s fifth in his last four games for Canada, but did little to dim the enthusiasm of a crowd largely supportive of El Salvador and determined to enjoy the Cuscatlecos’ first visit to Crew Stadium. El Salvador (1-1-0) will play a decisive game against Jamaica on Friday as it seeks to advance to the quarterfinals. Canada (2-0-0) faces Costa Rica needing only a tie to advance, although Canada coach Stephen Hart said angling for the draw is not in his game plan.

With goals from USA players Freddy Adu, Stuart Holden, Robbie Rogers and Charlie Davies, the US are trying to become the second team to win three-straight Gold Cups. Mexico was the last team to win three straight in the 1990’s.

The US will challenge Honduras on Wednesday.

The US has won three of the last four events and four times since the tournament began in 1991, and they are currently ranked 12^th.

Milan is looking to sign Brazilian forward Luis Fabiano for a contract of €15 million. Luis Fabiano, at 28yrs old was considered the best Brazilian player at the Confederation Cup. However, Milan are also considering other options including Dutch forward Klaas Jan Huntelaar, and Arsenal Emmanuel Adebayor.

But then Brazil came alive in the second half with three comeback goals in a 3-2 win over the upstart United States in the Confederations Cup final.

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.

Next they will play defending champion Brazil or host South Africa on Sunday in their first-ever men’s final at a FIFA competition. The U.S. has three full days to prepare for the final.

2) Fernando Torres

3) David Beckham

4) Kaka

5) Iker Casillas

6) Michael Ballack

7) Fabio Cannavaro

Fredrik Ljungberg

9) Luca Toni

10) Francesco Totti

Brazil defeats Italy 3-0 and leads them to the semi-finals of the FIFA Confederations Cup. The two scores from Luis Fabiano and one from Andrea Dossena sealed the deal.

Brazil will now take on South Africa in the second semi-final in Johannesburg on Thursday.

Confederations Cup 09 – Egypt 1-0 Italy – (Highest Quality) – The best free videos are right here

With North Korea’s 0-0 draw against Saudi Arabia on Wednesday, June 17, they now qualify for the 2010 World Cup, but it was not easy.

]]> http://futbolysoccer.com/2009/06/18/north-korea-qualifies-for-2010-world-cup/feed/ 12 http://futbolysoccer.com/2009/06/17/iran-vs-south-korea-1-1/ http://futbolysoccer.com/2009/06/17/iran-vs-south-korea-1-1/#comments Wed, 17 Jun 2009 20:13:18 +0000 face2face http://futbolysoccer.com/?p=104 The Iranian team had come to play. They put up an excellent tactical and individual show and came within minutes of victory, but it wasn’t to be. The Koreans are too good to be taken for granted, especially at home. The cream of the Korean football rose to the top, when Park Ji Sung equalized with less than 10 minutes to go.

Egypt defender Ahmed Al Muhamadi was red-carded for using his right arm to stop a goal-bound shot on the line, and Kaka converted the resulting penalty Monday in Bloemfontein.

“The matter of the complaint is about the process which led to the decision to award the penalty and have a red card,” FIFA spokesman Nicolas Maingot said Tuesday. “We will come up with a statement on that later on during the day.”

After Al Muhamadi used his arm to stop the shot from Brazil captain Lucio, he collapsed as if hurt, holding his head. Referee Howard Webb first pointed for a corner kick after play was stopped, but then awarded the penalty and handed out the red card.

The Egyptians later claimed that the fourth official used a television replay to make the call and said they would protest the decision. Referees are allowed to consult with their assistants, but the use of television replays is not sanctioned by FIFA.

“It (the complaint) relates to the decision process, to that decision,” Maingot said.

Even if the fourth official was used to make the call, Brazil coach Dunga was obviously happy with that decision.

“I think that in some moments it’s important to have a contribution like this,” the former Brazil captain said Monday of the fourth official. “And I think the referee saw that there was no mark on the player’s face, so he must have used his hands.”

Maingot also said he was not aware of an Egyptian threat to boycott the next match against Italy on Thursday in Johannesburg.

“Haven’t heard of that at all,” Maingot said.

Because of the loss to Brazil, Egypt needs to get at least a point against World Cup holder Italy to have any chance of advancing to the semifinals of the eight-team tournament. The Italians rallied to beat the United States 3-1 in the other Group B match Monday.

The Confederations Cup is being used as a warm-up tournament for next year’s World Cup, the first time soccer’s premier event will be played on African soil. The six continental champions, the world champions and the host comprise the six participants at this year’s competition.