Bradley: Stopping Xavi key to victory
Reuters - Wednesday 24 June 2009, 22:06
BLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa - United
States coach Bob Bradley said neutralising Spain midfielder Xavi
was the key to their shock 2-0 win over the European champions
in the Confederations Cup semi-final on Wednesday.
The Barcelona playmaker was allowed little room to manoeuvre
by a tigerish American side who reached their first major final.
"We made a special point to close down Xavi, trying to force
him to play the ball square or behind him so that he couldn't
play any of those penetrating passes he is so good at," Bradley
told reporters.
"We did a very good job of sealing down the middle of the
field. When you play Spain you have to work hard as a group to
defend and when we had the ball we needed to be aggressive."
Bradley paid special tribute to central defenders Jay
DeMerit and Oguchi Onyewu, who thwarted a furious Spanish
onslaught in the second half.
"To go from the first two games and concede six goals to the
next two games and not concede any is a tremendous effort from
everybody on the team," said Onyewu.
Goalkeeper Tim Howard added: "We are scratching our heads
just like you guys are but it goes to show what hard work and
commitment to each other can bring. Football is a funny thing.
"Any time you come away with a shock win you need to take
your chances in front of goal and we defended like bandits. We
rode our luck today."
Goals from Jozy Altidore and Clint Dempsey sank the world's
top-ranked team. It ended Spain's world record run of 15
successive victories and their 35-match unbeaten sequence, a
world record streak they share with Brazil.
The U.S. now meet holders Brazil or hosts South Africa in
Sunday's final.