If you need a penalty kick converted to win a tournament there aren't many players you would rather have standing at the spot than Alessandro Del Piero. The World Cup winner and Juventus legend figured to have the edge when he faced off against Aston Villa goalkeeper and U.S. International Brad Guzan with one kick to make to secure a Peace Cup title.
Guzan had other ideas.
Del Piero pinned Juve's hopes of a Peace Cup title on a soft penalty kick straight down the middle. Guzan didn't budge, stood his ground and kicked away the meek attempt. Villa took advantage of the new life immediately as Carlos Cuellar converted his kick to put the pressure on Juve. Nicola Legrottaglie skied his kick over the crossbar to give Aston Villa the Peace Cup title.
Guzan held Juventus scoreless in regulation and overtime and opened the penalty shootout with a save of a Vincenzo Iaquinta penalty attempt. Juventus converted its next three to set up Del Piero's potential-winner. Guzan made the second of three penalty saves to earn himself, fellow American Eric Lichaj, and the rest of Aston Villa winner's medals.
Highlights from the Peace Cup final, and some more news stories, after the jump:
Earthquakes rout Sounders
The Seattle Sounders rolled into Buck Shaw Stadium on Sunday unbeaten in six, but they also hadn't won a road match in six MLS encounters. Unfortunately for Sigi Schmid's team, the bad streak continued as the Earthquakes rolled to a 4-0 victory on Sunday.
San Jose jumped out to a lead just two minutes into the match, courtesy of an Osvaldo Alonso own-goal, and things just snowballed for the Earthquakes. The Sounders lost James Riley to a questionable red card, but the Earthquakes were in full control of the action by the time that decision was made.
Beasley ready to regain national team spot
DaMarcus Beasley had been a U.S. national team fixture when healthy for as far back as seven years, so it makes sense if it took him some time to deal with his benching following a costly mistake in the U.S. team's first Confederations Cup loss to Brazil
In an interview with the Associated Press, Beasley admitted to being upset with losing his place in the U.S. lineup during Confederations Cup, and is hoping to regain his form by finding playing time with Scottish club Glasgow Rangers.
"It was very disappointing. One mistake and I'm out," Beasley said. "It just shows that no player is guaranteed a spot. It's the first time ever in my career that it's happened to me in the national team. It was difficult to swallow.
"I wanted to help my team win, be part of it, because I didn't feel a part of it."
Beasley started for Rangers in its 3-0 pre-season loss to Arsenal on Saturday.
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What did you think of Guzan's Peace Cup performance? Hopeing he finds enough playing time with Brad Friedel in front of him? Surprised at San Jose's rout, or beginning to wonder how legit Seattle is? Think Beasley can regain his old form and become a national team starter again?
Share your thoughts below.
Arena will take you Beastley. Eddie Lewis is finished.
Flounder fans always have an excuse…try winning on the road for once this year!!!
There are no easy points in the league.
“Let me see if I understand Jamar Beasley correctly. DMB’s one mistake was his continuous poor play since the ’06 WC? So his ONE mistake was actually a SERIES of mistakes? I guess I’m missing something.”
yes, you’re missing the fact his post was dripping with sarcasm.
also, please: 1) fire bb; 2) ensure ching never sees the field again for the mnt.
thanks,
mgmt
Sounders still making the playoffs
Congrats to Guzan! And I think it is a good thing that if US MNT players don’t perform, they get cut. Sorry Beasley! That has been the whole problem, these players think they have an automatic spot on the team. We appreciate the past, but where you are currently at is what matters. Just like for your European club team, if you fail to perform, you are out.
Does anyone have video of Jemal Johnson’s goals?
I am very excited hearing Beasley talk about fighting for a spot for his club and country. If he can regain his form, he is undoubtedly the best left option we have. The biggest part of his game is speed and tenacity, if he can regain that at Ibrox then I welcome him back, but if he isn’t good enough for Walter Smith, then Bradley needs to keep him out of the MNT camp.
it cannot be overstated how badass Guzan’s save was! seriously. Del Piero was in my eyes an assassin. they’d bring him in as a sub and he’d score. and he’d always take a penalty and execute. ’til he met Guzan! aha!
To sweeten the moment:
On July 4, Del Piero entered as a substitute near the end of regulation and scored Italy’s second goal in a 2-0 semifinal win over host Germany.[26] In the final against France, which ended 1-1 after extra time, Del Piero scored a penalty in the shootout as Italy won the tournament for the fourth time.
his thoughts:
“I am sorry to have missed the penalty. It could have made us win,” Del Piero told the press after the game.
“The goalkeeper was good not to have moved and it is a sour loss.”
Re: Lichaj…
I’m not saying he is miles behind Wynne, skill wise.
What I am saying, is I think if the US has a game this Saturday, and Spector, Cherundolo and Hejduk are all unavailable, I think Wynne’s phone rings first.
Probably rings two or three times first, if I had to guess.
Everyone can put the Jump To Conclusions mat away.
zack-
i would agree that riley’s red card offense was questionable, but if you go back and watch the match, it was riley’s 2nd studs up challenge in a 5 minute span…..poor discretion on his part
the game was physical, as evidenced by the multiple yellow cards on BOTH teams
the pitch was the worst i’ve seen it in 2 seasons, with the women’s side playing a match just the day before….however, considering seattle doesn’t even have a pitch, just some indoor/outdoor carpeting, you should hold your criticism……just ask your players which field they would rather play on……field turf is an abomination
COUPLE THINGS ABOUT THE SOUNDERS/QUAKES GAME:
Keller needs to learn spanish. Alonso probably heard Keller shout something, but thought that he said, “Lookout!” Total lack of communication.
I WILL NOT CONTINUE TO WATCH FLOP BALL. Take control MLS, before it poisons the league. The ref shouldn’t work again (or wear glasses). Terribly called game.
Worst pitch in MLS. (I felt like I was watching an indoor match.)
Good on the quakes for getting physical. Apparently, they know how to be physical and not get called for fouls constantly. Thug ball!
Sounders looked exhausted. It would have been better to field a team of hungry fresh reserves than trot the team that DID play onto the pitch.
Come on Sigi at some point you need to take your guys aside and tell them to get rough.
Beasley, one mistake? Really, you think that in your entire national team career you’ve only made one mistake? And that one mistake cost you your spot? Has this guy ever seen film of himself playing or does he suffer from the same delusions of grandeur that Adu seems to be wrapped in?
It sounds like benching Beasley may have been another great choice by Bob Bradley. Beasley sounds like he’s got a fire underneath his butt for the first time in a while.
anyone else notice how gay that picture is?
You could fire a cannon into those stands without hurting anybody at the Peace Cup. Soccer will never make it as a big time sport in Spain.