WE'RE THROUGH!!! USA RUN RAMPANT OVER EGYPT

It's a bird, no its a plane, no it's a MIRACLE! 

The United States are through to the knock out stages of the Confederations Cup courtesy of superb play by Brazil and the Boys.  Everyone came to play today for the USA.  Even Conor Casey found some use for himself late in the game to head away a late corner by Egypt as they searched for the goal that would take them through. 

My hands are still shaking from excitement as I write this up.  The passion, the fire, the runs, the vision, and the effort was finally, finally all there tonight in Rustenburg.  After a goal mouth scrabble, Charlie Davies on his first start with the US showed great patience and strength to put away the Americans' first of the night.  By then Brazil was already ahead 1-0 in Pretoria.  USA was pushing the tempo and Egypt to its limits.  Landon and Michael Bradley both had chances, however Landon opted to inexplicably pass instead of shoot when through on goal.  Bradley needed no cajoling to shoot and he tested keeper El Hadary. Then as the US-Egypt game neared halftime, the Brazil-Italy halftime score was flashed onto the board.  3-0 Brazil. Oh my. Only two long goals away. 

No doubt both the Americans and Egyptians knew the scoreline, because both sides came out absolutely on fire.  After the first few exchanges though, the Americans again gained the initiative and started to string passes together.  Michael Bradely and Clint Dempsey both fired efforts, but only Bradley troubled Egyptian keeper El Hadary.  Then in the 51st minute, Dempsey led a counterattack which eventually found its way to Altidore in the box.  The powerful forward was able to take a touch and rip it towards goal, only for it to be blocked by the arm of an Egyptian defender on the line.  Michael Bradley, Jozy, and Landon all appealled for the penalty, but the ref incredibly waved it away and play continued.  Yes, it hit the arm incidentally after hitting his leg, but when its preventing a goal, the penalty should be given.  Not only that but the Egyptian should have been given a red card.  Too bad Howard Webb wasn't on our game.  A similar incident occurred in 2002 against Germany in the Quarterfinals.  A clear goal by Greg Berhalter knocked away off the line by torsten frings.  That prick.  

Anyway, I digress.  Play continues and the US continue to stream forward.  Then in the 62nd minute, Bradley collected the ball and drove forward. After waiting for the defender to commit, he laid off a perfectly weighted ball to Landon.  After bursting into the left side of the box, he picked out Michael with a terrific (yes, I'm running out of adjectives) cut back.  Bradley slid onto the ball, banging it by El Hadary into the net.  With the crowd going crazy, the Americans knew they needed another goal to clinch a date with Spain.  

Benny Feilhaber came in for Altidore who was gased by the time he came off.  Then, the moment of truth.  In the 70th Spector, whose been solid all tournament and had been enjoying a very good showing so far, put in one of the crosses of tournament to find Dempsey, whose diving header was buried in the far corner of the net.  A moment of sheer brilliance.  

The USA held on for a nervy finish as Egypt streamed forward for the goal to take them through.  But Oneywu and DeMerit were absolutely class.  Oneywu won everything in the air while DeMerit made short work of several crosses and no one this entire tournament has beaten him one-on-one if I can recall correctly.  Monster performance by Michael Bradley as well as he has started to turn into the engine of the US team with his driving runs and telling passes.  Ricardo Clark, I owe you an apology.  You played lights out, linking with Bradley and controlling Egyptian playmaker Mohamed Aboutrika the entire game.  Thanks for not getting another red card.

And thanks Brazil, superb stuff by the Samba kings.  To work hard to not let the Italians score was a huge plus for us. A few final thoughts.  I saw a sign by an Egyptian before the game reading "ready to lose USA? Spain here we come" HA. Fuck you and now that you're out of the tournament, you can go build a pyramid or something.  And to top it off, Giuseppe Rossi didn't advance! That huge prick.  He dedicated his goals against the country of his birth to his family in the States.  Wow, thanks douche have  fun watching the rest of the tournament on TV, we'll just be playing on ESPN at 1:30 on Wednesday.  I'm so proud of the Boys I'm going to go drink a beer because I still can't believe we're through.