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On Saturday, the last two matches of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup Group A were played in Brazil.
The most interesting match took place between the national teams of Brazil and Italy. The tournament hosts took the first place in the group by defeating the Italians 4-2.
From the beginning of the first half, the Brazilian hosts took the initiative and threatened Gianluigi Buffon's goal several times, but the latter was reliable in the goal for the first ten minutes.
A while later, the Italian footballers managed to briefly take the initiative, but supported by their fans, the Brazilians continued to demonstrate their superiority. Neymar had one of the most realistic chances to score, when he struck next to the goal after a great pass from Luiz Gustavo.
During the first 45 minutes of the first half, neither team had many chances. Nevertheless, in added time after a forced substitution, Dante delivered Brazil to the lead.
In the beginning of the second half, the Brazilian national team continued to press their opponents, but the Italians managed to equalize the score when Emanuele Giaccherini scored in the 51st minute after a great pass from Mario Balotelli.
The hosts did not have to wait long for their response and just four minutes later the Brazilians surged ahead again when the "Barcelona" newcomer Neymar executed a great penalty kick.
Around ten minutes later, another goal was scored in the Italian national team's goal. For the first time in this tournament, Fred scored, but the result was softened by Giorgio Chiellini after five minutes.
The final point in this match was added by the same Fred, who scored from a fairly clear offside position, which the referees' brigade failed to identify.
Brazil 4 - 2 Italy 45' [1 - 0] Dante 51' [1 - 1] E.Giaccherini 55' [2 - 1] Neymar 66' [3 - 1] Fred 71' [3 - 2] G.Chiellini 89' [4 - 2] Fred
The next uneventful match between Japan and Mexico took place in Belo Horizonte. The Mexicans won a minimal and deserved victory by a score of 1-2.
The goals were scored only in the second half. Both times, the Mexican national team was marked by "Man Utd" striker Javier Hernandez, who also scored both accurate shots with his head.
Japan's hope to fight for victory was restored by Shinji Okazaki, who scored in the 86th minute after a pass from Kengo Nakamura.
Nevertheless, the Japanese failed to create anything miraculous in the remaining time and the victory went to the Mexican footballers who remained in the third place in Group A.
Japan 1 - 2 Mexico 54' [0 - 1] J.Hernandez 66' [0 - 2] J.Hernandez 86' [1 - 1] S.Okazaki
Group A tournament table: (Position, team, played, wins, draws, losses, goals, points) 1. Brazil 3 3 0 0 7 9 2. Italy 3 2 0 1 0 6 3. Mexico 3 1 0 2 -2 3 4. Japan 3 0 0 3 -5 0
