VIDEO: Jozy Altidore Goal, USA vs. Spain 6/24/09

VIDEO: Jozy Altidore Goal, USA vs. Spain 6/24/09
source

For the first time in nearly three years, Spain's normally potent attack couldn't pick apart an opponent and ended up on the losing end. The United States halted Spain's rewriting of football's records book on Wednesday with a 2-0 semifinal victory at the Confederations Cup sparked by Jozy Altidore's goal that snapped the European champion's record winning streak at 15 games.

USA's Jozy Altidore took advantage of Spain's lethargic defense for a first-half goal and goalkeeper Tim Howard made a number of outstanding saves in the second half before Clint Dempsey sealed the Americans' first appearance in a major final.

One year after an outstanding European Championship win that seemed to remove the perennial underachiever tag, Jozy Altidore assured that Spain returned to earth with its first loss since November 2006, a span of 35 matches that only Brazil's 1993-96 team can match.

"This is an accident, a little step backward," Spain coach Vicente del Bosque said. "We have to look forward with optimism."In near freezing conditions at the Free State Stadium, Spain outshot the Americans 29-9 but couldn't break through the stifling defense.

VIDEO: Jozy Altidore Goal, USA vs. Spain 6/24/09