Spain Edge Italy In Penalty Epic

[Folami David]

World and European champions Spain overcame Italy 7-6 in a penalty shootout after surviving an energy- draining Confederations Cup semifinal that ended goalless after two hours in sapping heat and humidity on Thursday.
.
Substitute Jesus Navas converted the winning penalty past Gianluigi Buffon after Italian defender Leonardo Bonucci skied the 13th penalty of the shootout with the score level at 6-6 at a spellbound Estadio Castelao.
.
All the previous 12 penalties had been converted with players from both sides displaying nerves of steel as the tension increased.
.
Antonio Candreva began what was effectively the fourth act of a classic match when he planted the ball past Spain goalkeeper Iker Casilla and after that, 11 others stepped up and dealt with the mounting pressure before Bonucci's kick ended up in Row Z.
.
The Spanish players found their last dregs of energy to celebrate wildly as they set up a final against Brazil on Sunday at the Maracana in Rio de Janeiro.
.
Brazil, who beat Uruguay 2-1 in Wednesday's semifinal will be looking for their third successive Confederations Cup title and fourth overall.
.
The tournament, which is being used as a test event for next year's World Cup finals in Brazil, has been shrouded in controversy with the matches overshadowed by riots and protests about social issues and the cost of hosting the World Cup.

[Shola Sholaz]

The game was broing from the very first minute. Both teams did not bring on their A game at all. They were dissappointing.