Confederations Cup Update

It took an American to beat the Americans.

For 57 minutes, the US, with a man down due to a harsh red card on Ricardo Clark's first foul of the game, outplayed Italy. The US defended in numbers, kept organized, kept shape, stayed disciplined, and counter-attacked with great success, until the time came to SHOOT the ball. Had Michael Bradley and Jozy Altidore not squandered chances in the first half, we may well be sitting on a different pedestal this afternoon. Instead, we watched as Giuseppi Rossi came on in the 57th minute and in the 58th cracked a one in a hundred shot into the upper 90. Never mind that the referees decision to change the game in the 33rd minute would ultimately come to haunt the tired Americans late, but the fact that the Americans were beaten by an American is why this loss stings so much. But enough of hatred toward him, he's a great player that Benedict Rossi, that Judas of American soccer, that backstabbing....enough before i herniate. Here are my player ratings:

Tim Howard (6): Tim can't be faulted for any of the goals. Rossi's first was a rare hit the likes of which are seen once and then never again. De Rossi's was shielded by Onyewu, and Rossi's second another hammer that no keeper would've saved. What Howard did deliver was a solid performance, and kept the Americans in with a chance late in the game.

Jonathan Spector (6): Spector should be the starter from now on in my opinion. He showed great instincts, physical grit, and ability to read the game, which is crucial against a team like Italy. Could've gotten forward more, but when Clark was sent off that opportunity was thrown by the wayside. Good performances against Brazil and Egypt will cement him as starter.

Jay DeMerit (5.5): The Watford man cemented his No. 3 CB spot with his admirable stand-in due to Carlos Bocanegra's injury. Bringing his physicality to bear on the Italian forwards all game and showing why he's the captain at Watford. However, Rossi's first goal should've been stepped too, and was made a buffoon on Pirlo's move at the end, due to fatigue.

Oguchi Onyewu (7): Gooch was an absolute beast against Gilardino and Toti, rendering both useless in the air. Showed quick feet in situations and good hard tackles when things got dangerous. With Carlos out, the US needed someone to step up and be a leader on the back line. Onyewu did just that.

Jonathan Bornstein (6): Glad to see the Chivas man back in the mix after a long spell of injuries and poor form. Even I as a Heath Pearce supporter was impressed with the way he shut down Camoranesi and Zambrotta for the majority of the night. Had his shaky moments, but for the most part, played his part in keeping service from coming in.

Clint Dempsey (4.5): Clint needs a break from soccer. In two consecutive games, the Fulham man has put the US in bad spots and it cost them, this time a hospital pass to Benny Feilhaber who was covered by two men allowed Italy to equalize. Showed his typical hot flashes and good possession, but in my opinion, he tries to showboat to much in his own half and it costs the US dearly.

Michael Bradley (6.5): An admirable performance from the young Bradley against Pirlo. He made crunching tackles and distributed the ball quite well against a highly organized Italy side. Should have buried his chance in the first half though.

Ricardo Clark (5): Played well and tackled hard until his boneheaded tackle on Gattuso would change the game. The red card was harsh and a yellow defiantly deserved but the fact of the matter is that he should'nt have put the referee in the position to decide if he plays or not.

Benny Feilhaber (6): Playing out of position for most of the game doesn't help much, but he showed the flashes of brilliance that was his trademark prior to the disaster that is moving from Hamburg to Derby to Aarhus, not to mention being injured along the way. But his ball to Jozy was imaculate and can't be blamed for Rossi's goal, Dempsey put him in a bad spot.

Jozy Altidore (6): Got physical with the CB's of Italy and showed his flashes of brilliance especially his move to draw the penalty on Chiellini. But his decision to pass instead of rifling the ball into the net in the first half is mind-boggling.

Landon Donovan (7): Another Italy game, another red card, another Donovan performance to be heralded. Donovan was a thorn in the Italian defense's side all night long. Though his delivery on set pieces needs to improve, he was robbed of a pair of assists when Bradley and Altidore misfired in the first half. Delivered cooly to put the US ahead with his 40th international goal.