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The first finalist of the Confederations Cup tournament has been determined. It is the five-time world champion national team of Brazil, who today, in the first semi-final, defeated the host Germany after a beautiful and intense battle with a score of 3-2.
Germany 2 - 3 Brazil
21' [0 - 1] Adriano
23' [1 - 1] Lukas Podolski
43' [1 - 2] Ronaldinho (penalty kick)
45' [2 - 2] Michael Ballack (penalty kick)
76' [2 - 3] Adriano
The match began with a fierce battle, but at the beginning, the teams did not have real chances to score. Indeed, spectators did not have to wait long for the first goal - after a penalty kick by the Brazilian Adriano from about 30 meters, the ball rebounded off the wall and confused the goalkeeper to go into the goal.
Despite that, during the next attack, Jurgen Klinsmann's proteges reestablished the balance. Initially, Dida blocked F. Ernst's shot, but a corner kick was headed into the goal by the young forward L. Podolski.
In the 43rd minute, the Brazilian world champions once again surged forward when the German crowd's disliked and booed defender R. Huth pushed the scorer of the first goal Adriano in the penalty area. The penalty was taken by the regular Brazilian 11-meter penalty scorer Ronaldinho, whose shot was accurate once again.
Unfortunately, this time as well, the Brazilians did not enjoy the lead for long - in the added time of the first half, the German captain M. Ballack was illegally stopped in the penalty area by the Brazilian defenders. Ballack himself stepped up to take the penalty and, like his colleague, the Brazilian captain Ronaldinho, accurately shot into the corner of the goal and scored.
In the second half, the inspired hosts gathered in Nuremberg demonstrated excellent play, but did not create very dangerous opportunities, and the Brazilians only needed one chance to score the winning goal - with a mistake by P. Mertesacker, Adriano scored for the second time in the match, even sending the ball into J. Lehmann's goal despite being closely watched by the defender.
Brazil maintained the lead and secured a hard-fought victory. Their opponents in the final will be determined tomorrow, when in the other semi-final, taking place in Hanover, the national teams of Argentina and Mexico will face each other.
