US bounces back with win over Pharoahs

Agence France-Presse

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Bob Bradley's Stars and Stripes turned up for their last Group B fixture against African champion Egypt here Sunday as such massive outsiders midfielder Clint Dempsey only realized they could still grab the runners-up spot and with it a ticket to the last four 24 hours before kick-off.

Lopsided defeats to Brazil and world champions Italy, losses compounded by having a player sent off in each game, had seemingly left them facing an early trip home.But Dempsey's 71st minute header coming on top of goals from Charlie Davies and Michael Bradley, the coach's son, saw the CONCACAF Gold Cup winner sink Egypt and pip Italy on number of goals scored.

Man of the match Dempsey revealed he was only conscious the States had pulled off a Confed Cup conjuring trick when he saw the bench go wild on the final whistle.

"And to be honest I was only first aware that we could still go through the day before the game," the Fulham midfielder told the post match press conference. Captain Landon Donovan added: "We thought it was our last game, honestly, we just wanted to go out and give a good showing."

Bradley junior was in dreamland.

"It's an amazing thing and I can't even begin to properly explain how happy I am right now. This team never stops scrapping and clawing and fighting. We proved people wrong."

The reward for Dempsey, Donovan, Bradley and company is a daunting semi-final match-up with the world's top-ranked team, Spain, in Bloemfontain, tomorrow.

Dempsey reflected: "We have to regroup now and try to go as far as we can, as a player you don't get many opportunities like this." "Spain are a great team," Bradley senior ventured.

"We played them last year in a friendly in Santander, the team's last warm-up before Euro 2008.

"They wore us down in the second half, but then we watched as they wore down Russia, Holland and eventually Germany at the European championships. "I pointed out to the players that they should take note that we had done a good job.

"It's a short turnaround and playing them is such a challenge, it's like playing Barcelona and the national team. We'll have our work cut out against the likes of Torres and Xavi."

It was tense stuff on Sunday night as one goal from the Egyptians would have closed the semi-final door for the States and seen the Pharoahs' marching on to Bloemfontain as would an Italy fightback in their game against Brazil being played simultaneously over in Pretoria.

"We were getting updates from the Brazil match which finished before ours," Bradley disclosed.

He put his team's remarkable change in fortune in part down to the F factor. "We've been impressed with Egypt but time is short between games in this competition and we knew fatigue could play a part."

With Bradley, like a true gambler, took off into the African night to savor the win and contemplate his hand before the next throw of the cup dice.