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Brazil advances to play U.S. in Confed Cup final

Thu 25th, June 2009

Johannesburg, South Africa (Sports Network) - Daniel Alves scored in the 87th minute, helping Brazil edge South Africa 1-0 on Thursday in the Confederations Cup to set up a rematch with the United States in the final.

Alves, who entered the match as a substitute in the 81st, lined up a free kick from 19 yards and drilled a shot to the right of a five-man South African wall, just off the post and into the side netting.

Brazil, which beat the United States 3-0 in group play, faces the Americans on Sunday at 2:30 (ET). The U.S. shocked world No. 1 Spain on Wednesday to advance to its first FIFA final.

South Africa will play the third-place game Sunday against Spain, which won the teams' group meeting 2-0.

Brazil opened Thursday's semifinal with the first scoring chance when Ramires unleashed a 20-yard blast that tested South Africa goalie Itumeleng Khune, who dove to make the first of four saves.

South Africa followed with three straight chances, the best in the 21st minute when Aaron Mokoena ran between Brazil center defenders Lucio and Luizao to meet a free kick and headed just high with only goalie Julio Cesar to beat.

Brazil's Kaka had two chances in a five-minute span late in the half, but his first shot was wide and Khune saved the second.

South Africa's Steven Pienaar capped the back-and-forth first half with a blast inches wide of the left post in the 43rd as the game went to half scoreless.

The African club had the first good chance of the second half also, with Teko Modise unleashing an 18-yard shot in the 58th that deflected off Luizao's arm and changed directions but was still stopped by Cesar at the right post for the best of his four saves.

Over the next 30 minutes, both sides had a few chances but rarely finished well and overtime and penalty kicks seemed like the only way the match would end.

But just minutes from the end of regulation, Ramires earned a foul just outside the area and Alves lined up the kick from 19 yards out on the top left side of the area.

South Africa lined up a good wall but Alves eyed the right side and drilled the shot just past a defender and a diving Khune for a near-perfect goal, his third for Brazil.

The Brazilians nearly added a second goal before the final whistle, but Luis Fabiano was denied from close-range to give the South Africans some hope in the closing seconds.

South Africa couldn't find the equalizer, though, and settled for the rematch with Spain, which will be trying to rebound from its first loss in 36 games, despite an inspired performance.

Brazil extended its unbeaten streak to 15 games (11-0-4), and improved to 3-0-0 all-time against South Africa.