USA upsets Spain to make Confed Cup football finalBLOEMFONTEIN, South Africa (AFP) — The United States shocked Spain 2-0 on Wednesday to book a place in the Confederations Cup final and end the European champions record-breaking win streak.
A first half strike from Villarreal's Jozy Altidore and another 16 minutes from time by Fulham's Clint Dempsey did the damage in what will go down as one of the biggest victories in US football history.
They also had a flawless performance by Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard and a commendable defensive display to thank for earning them a shot at the trophy on Sunday against either Brazil or hosts South Africa.
Their only black mark was having Michael Bradley - son of the coach Bob - sent off for a lunging tackle with four minutes left, meaning he will miss the final.
It was a remarkable upset on a freezing night that not only ended Spain's record of 15 consecutive wins but also prevented them from surpassing Brazil's 35-match unbeaten run.
Spain will have to be content with going into the history books level with the South Americans after their first loss since November 15 2006.
After resting several players for their last match against South Africa, they were back at full strength with Iker Casillas, Sergio Ramos, Joan Capdevila and Xabi Alonso returning to action.
The United States welcomed back captain and ex-Fulham player Carlos Bocanegra while Howard returned to goal.
Spain had won all three previous encounters but the United States' miracle run to the last four, qualifying on goals scored after finishing level with Italy on goal difference, showed they could not be understimated.
They had the first chance of the match with Howard forced to turn a dangerous Cesc Fabregas cross-cum-shot over the bar in the third minute.
But the US weren't sitting back and Charlie Davies sent a spectacular bicycle kick flashing just wide then wasted a free header minutes later.
With Dempsey firing a long range drive close soon after it was clear they meant business.
At the other end Fabregas sent a cross in from the left which Fernando Torres volleyed just past the post from six yards.
They combined superbly again shortly after with the Liverpool striker forcing a fine one-handed save from his Merseyside rival Howard.
But in a major shock the US took the lead on 27 minutes when the powerful Altidore muscled past Capdevila and Carles Puyol with Casillas unable to prevent his shot finding the back of the net.
It was only the third goal Spain had conceded in 16 games.
Spain were in trouble but bounced back with a hatful of chances with Torres and Ramos in the thick of it only for heroic defending to deny them time and again.
They went to the break losing 1-0 and in need of something special.
David Villa almost provided it soon after the restart when he let rip from just inside the box but Howard turned it round the post.
Spain had a penalty appeal turned down before Albert Riera tugged a shot just wide as they ramped up the pressure.
They threw all they had at the Americans but Bocanegra and his defensive partners held firm and against the run of play the underdogs scored a second.
LA Galaxy's Landon Donovan sent the ball in from the right and defensive errors by Gerald Pique and Ramos allowed Dempsey to hustle the ball over the line for a famous victory.
Brazil and South Africa play their semi-final on Thursday.
And this is just heaven.
Now this is just garbage...
Murder-capital murder-written all over it.Iowa football coach fatally shot in high schoolBy NIGEL DUARA – 33 minutes ago
PARKERSBURG, Iowa (AP) — A gunman shot and killed a prominent Iowa high school football coach in the school's weight room early Wednesday and was taken into custody shortly afterward, authorities said.
The gunman shot Aplington-Parkersburg High School coach Ed Thomas at about 8 a.m. with about 50 students in the school, including several in the weight room at the time. School was not in session, and no one else was injured in the attack.
Thomas, the 2005 NFL high school football coach of the year, was airlifted to a hospital and died, his family said in a statement. He was 58.
Holly Fokkena, a spokeswoman for Butler County, said an adult male suspect has been taken into custody and was at the Butler County jail. She did not say if the gunman was a student at the school. But school district board secretary Sue Miller said she had heard he was not.
The district's superintendent and a guidance counselor were meeting with students who were in the weight room at the time of the shooting.
"No kids were hurt, we're thankful for that," Superintendent Jon Thompson told KOEL radio. "They did witness this and so we have counselors at the site to talk with the kids."
The school is in Parkersburg, about 80 miles northeast of Des Moines.
Thomas compiled a career record of 292-84 in 37 seasons as a head coach, 34 of them at Aplington-Parkersburg, and was one of the most well-known high school football coaches in Iowa. He was honored as the NFL High School Coach of the Year in 2005, and four of his former players are in the NFL: Green Bay's Aaron Kampman, Jacksonville's Brad Meester, Detroit's Jared DeVries and Denver's Casey Wiegmann.
DeVries, a defensive end with the Lions, walked off the practice field in Allen Park, Mich. toward the end of its morning practice, apparently shaken.
Team officials said DeVries was not immediately available for comment.
Thomas made national headlines last year when he insisted that the high school's football field, named in his honor, be rebuilt as a way to help restore community pride in Parkersburg after it was hit by a powerful tornado in May 2008 that killed six people and destroyed the high school.
"A lot of people know coach Thomas for his success as a football coach, but a lot of people here locally know him as a person, as a dad and grandfather, and that's where our thoughts are right now, with coach Thomas," said Superintendent Thompson.
Gov. Chet Culver, who was once a high school teacher and coach in Des Moines, said he was stunned by the shooting.
"As a former high school football coach, I've always had great admiration and respect for Coach Thomas," Culver said in a statement. "The state and national coaching fraternity has suffered a devastating loss. As we mourn the passing of Coach Thomas, it is my hope we can all continue to learn from his example."
Paul Rhoads, Iowa State's new football coach, said in a statement that Thomas was one of the first people to call him when he accepted the Cyclones job last December. Rhoads said Thomas was an Iowa coaching legend and "the best of people."
"His leadership set an example for us and his legacy will live on in the thousands of people he has touched in and out of the classroom and on and off the field," Rhoads said.
Toby Lorenzen, head coach at Central Lyon High School in Rock Rapids in northwest Iowa, said the killing was a shock to people in high school football programs throughout Iowa.
"He was one of the most down to earth, well respected coaches around."
Richard Wulkow, executive director of the Iowa High School Athletic Association, said in a statement that Thomas embodied what a coach should be.
"He will be forever remembered not so much for his many wins on the field, but for the exemplary manner in which he coached kids and led the Aplington-Parkersburg community and school. This was especially true last spring and summer as they rebuilt from a devastating tornado."
In 2005, a Texas high school football coach was shot by an angry parent who walked into the school fieldhouse and fired a single bullet into Gary Joe Kinne's stomach. The gunman's son played on the Canton High School football team with Kinne's son, who was the star quarterback.
Kinne survived. The shooter, Jeff Doyal Robertson, was convicted and sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Copyright © 2009 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.
BoBA 2009 ISML Predictions: Emerald Match Day 2
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ARENA 03: Kurata Sayuri [Suzumiya Haruhi]
ARENA 04: Illyasviel von Einzbern [Ryūgū Rena]
ARENA 05: [Holo] Kawashima Ami
ARENA 06: Misaka Shiori [Izumi Konata]
ARENA 07: [Sakagami Tomoyo] Nagi
ARENA 08: Louise Vallière [Maria]
ARENA 09: Kawazoe Tamaki [Tōsaka Rin]
ARENA 10: [Suigintou] Index Prohibitorum
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ARENA 12: [Minase Nayuki] Shameimaru Aya
ARENA 13: Hakurei Reimu [Suiseiseki]
ARENA 14: Alice Carroll [Hiiragi Kagami]
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ARENA 16: [C.C.] Ryōgi Shiki
ARENA 17: [Takamachi Nanoha] Kirisame Marisa
ARENA 18: Sunohara Mei [Ichinose Kotomi]
ARENA 19: [Shinku] Kinomoto Sakura
ARENA 20: [Kawasumi Mai] Chiba Kirino
ARENA 21: [Furude Rika] Yagami Hayate
ARENA 22: Vita [Katsura Hinagiku]
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ARENA 24: Patchouli Knowledge [Saber]
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ARENA 26: [Asahina Mikuru] Hinamori Amu
ARENA 27: [Nagato Yuki] Kōzuki Kallen
ARENA 28: Katagiri Yūhi [Shana]
ARENA 29: Evangeline McDowell [Aisaka Taiga]
ARENA 30: [Kushieda Minori] Konjiki no Yami
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ARENA 32: [Furukawa Nagisa] Chii