Confederations Cup - United States 3 - 0 Egypt

United States thrashed Egypt 3-0 in Rustenburg to astonishingly clinch their place in the semi-finals of the Confederations Cup at the expense of their opponents and Italy in Group B.With Italy losing 3-0 to Brazil in the other match, Bob Bradley's side knew that a victory by three goals or more would secure their progress, a result which they duly achieved.

Charlie Davies opened the scoring for the States in the 21st minute, having dominated the first half.

The coach's son Michael Bradley doubled his side's lead in the 63rd minute, before a superb downward header from Clint Dempsey eight minutes later sent the American supporters into delirium.

United States had the better of the first half, and created numerous chances for their forwards, with just one of them being taken.

In the 14th minute, a delightful through ball from Dempsey released Bradley, but his first-time shot was parried away to safety well by Essam Al-Hadari.

The States captain Landon Donovan was at the forefront of the majority of his side's attacking play, and used his pace to cause havoc in the Egypt half on frequent occasions.

In the 18th minute, Donovan was played through by Davies, but for some inexplicable reason decided to pass the ball into space on the right instead of having a shot, after Josmer Altidore had checked his run.

The goal which broke the deadlock came after an innocuous run from Altidore down the left wing, with the forward squaring the ball to Davies from the byline, whose shot deflected off the diving Essam Al-Hadari in the Egypt goal.

A jinking run from Donovan in the 28th minute tore the Egypt defence open again, dribbling with poise and guile on the edge of the area, moving in at pace, before Al-Hadari raced off his line smartly to palm the ball clear.

Slick interplay from Ahmed Eid and Ahmed Abdei-Ghani found Mohamed Aboutriaka in space inside the States penalty area, but the striker's curling shot was coolly palmed away by Guzan on the half hour.

As the half drew to a close, the game became increasingly stretched, and when Davies streaked through on goal again down the left wing, cutting inside and driving a shot across Al-Hadari, coach Bradley thought his side's lead had been doubled, but for the ball swerving wide late.

A minute later, Donovan played a ball through to Bradley, but with just the keeper to beat and in space, a dismal first touch saw the ball trickle frustratingly out of play.

Egypt enjoyed a good spell of pressure at the start of the second half, with Ahmed Samir Farag proving a threat down the left wing, but the US slowly edged their way into holding the ascendency.

In the 52nd minute, Altidore drilled a shot past the diving Al-Hadari, but his effort was blocked by Ahmed El-Mohammadi on the line, a stop which prompted vociferous appeals for handball from his opponents.

Bradley continued to find himself in good positions, but again lacked conviction with his finishing, and the forward hammered a good shot from the edge of the area four minutes later, which Al-Hadari parried away smartly, diving low to his left.

But the States' persistent attacks were rewarded when Donovan surged down the left and cut the ball back inside, where Bradley slid in to stab the ball into the far corner of Al-Hadari's goal in the 63rd minute.

The States knew that one further goal would be enough, and Dempsey provided the class required to secure it: the midfielder rose at the back post to direct a precise downward header into the bottom corner from Ricardo Clark's cross to trigger wild celebrations.

Egypt went straight on the attack, and in the 89th minute, defender Wael Gomaa had a chance to snatch back their semi-final spot, but his header drifted agonisingly over the bar to see the United States advance.

United States join Brazil - who face South Africa - in qualifying from Group B into the semi-finals, with Bradley's side facing European Champions Spain