FAIRLY-LIVE BLOG: US/Italy in Conf. Cup

4;22 p.m. GRADES (1-10 scale):

Howard- 7.5
Spector- 4
Onyewu- 5.5
Bornstein- 5.5
DeMerit- 6.5
Feilhaber- 6
Beasley- 4
Bradley- 6
Donovan- 6.5
Dempsey- 3.5
Altidore- 6
Davies- 5.5
Clark- 3
Kljestan- N/A

4:20 p.m. No slight to the US, down to ten men and all, but Tim Howard is the reason the States are only losing 3-1.

Rossi continues his tomfoolery with a volleyed finish of a great Pirlo cross. Again, Howard has no chance.

ITALY 3, UNITED STATES 1

4:16 p.m. Davies heads high off a Donovan corner that could've equalized.

4:15 p.m. AHEM. Kljestan comes close on a 20-yard effort, missing high seconds after Dempsey plays into the US "refuse to one-touch hit" mindset off a nice feed from Charlie Davies. Minutes are at a premium (89th).

4:12 p.m. Feels like about 10 -- or 85 -- minutes too late for the Kljestan substitution, but Jonathan Bornstein gives way for the Chivas USA midfielder. Here's hoping for some magic.

4:08 p.m. Donovan is tackled in the American football sense in the box in what surely would've been a PK had one not been awarded earlier. It would be nice for official Pablo Pozo to have some guts.

4:07 p.m. Clint Dempsey takes a rare shot on Buffon for the States.

Here's where soccer's detractors have something right... the red card essentially ends any close contest at the international level.

3:59 p.m. Oguchi Onyewu takes an easy save away from Tim Howard by flailing at -- and missing -- a de Rossi strike. It feels all but over in the 73rd minute. Enter DeMarcus Beasley.

ITALY 2, UNITED STATES 1

3:56 p.m. Andrea Pirlo has a free kick blocked by a two-man wall, and I'm feeling like a kid. That's what soccer gives me that a lot of sports don't... I'm not slapped in the face by over-saturation in America, so I can hold onto naive hope in the face of a tremendously-daunting final 20ish minutes.

3:45 p.m. Giuseppe Rossi = world-class d-----bag.

What a strike by the diminutive Italian forward who spent the first 13 years of his life in the States. He can, however, thank New Jersey for his garbage haircut.

UNITED STATES 1, ITALY 1

3:35 p.m. DeMerit is having a day. Another fantastic piece of tackling saves Howard from a 1v1.

3:14 p.m. Several incredulous texts from fellow Americans happy for the PK, but understanding that it was a make-up call for the red.

3:12 p.m. Stat on ESPN: Donovan has 10 goals in last 24 int'l matches... 10 on PKs.

3:10 JOZY PK! Lando gets yet another PK goal.

1-0 UNITED STATES

3:06 p.m. Again, Lando Calrissian skies it over the bar on a free kick, ignoring Jonathan Spector on a clean off-wall run.

That said, could've been a reciprocal foul, or at least yellow on a Fabio Grosso elbows Donovan in the face.

3:03 p.m. Dear "Redcardo" Clark,

No one knew why you were playing and now we can all agree.

Nice red card, knee kicker. Were you abiding by some sort of unwritten US/Italy red card rule?

Typed,
Nick

3:01 p.m. The best part of US/Mexico in Columbus in February was our unleashing of the "Oh Tim Howard!" chant to the tune of "Hallelujah." He's what a defensively hamstrung team like America needs. I'd imagine there's a real Evertonian similarity there.

2:59 p.m. Remember that parent comment? Jozy, you're grounded. Altidore takes a brilliant feed from Donovan off a break in the six and... tries to pass it through Buffon and two defenders. Yeeeesh.

2:58 p.m. The Italians are impeccable with their set piece organization, and the States need to clean it up.

2:57 p.m. A nice run by Michael Bradley -- Bob's son, don't ya know? -- after a nice tackle by Michael Bradley leaves a bad taste after a poor finish attempt by... Michael Bradley. Should be 1-1 right now.

2:53 p.m. If Bob Bradley is not related to Bills head coach Dick Jauron by at most three degrees I'd be shocked.

2:50 p.m. Italy can work the set pieces, and the States are lucky when Legrottaglie's diving header misses wide. I've always wondered why West Ham defender Spector doesn't get more looks from Bob Bradley when healthy, and here's hoping that losing his mark in Legrottaglie isn't a harbinger of things to come, and an answer to my curiousity.

2:45 p.m. A little bit on the Egypt/Brazil game earlier... I have no idea what to make of it. Brazil mounted a "nobody's business" 3-1 lead before Egypt responded with two quick second half tallies that looked to send the game to an unexpected sharing of points. No Zaki for the Egyptians, but Zidan was brilliant as expected. Both teams looked more dangerous and more susceptible than previously thought.

By the way, "Egyptian Footballer" is a great name for a band.

2:40 p.m. Excellent defensive play by Jay Demerit, shielding and then faux-turning away from an onrushing attack from Gilardino of the mighty Champions League qualified Fiorentina.

2:38 p.m. Landon Donovan: the King of the Overhit free kick. I don't hate him at all, but I need more from him.

Also, I feel a little like a proud parent or uncle every time Jozy Altidore gets capped. He's going to be so, so good.

2:33 p.m. An absolutely-expected "feeling out" period, but my first observation would be a great color contrast thanks in large part to slightly-brighter jerseys for the Italians.

Also, because I've been asked a lot, and as was discussed with Howard Simon on this morning's WGR Podcast, the incessant buzzing sound you here at matches in South Africa is the Vuvuzela.

2:17 p.m. Here we go, US line-up announced:

US - GK- Howard; D- Spector, Onyewu, Bornstein, Demerit; M- Feilhaber, Bradley, Clark; F- Dempsey, Donovan, Altidore

Backline looking suspect after Charlie Blackmouth's hamstring ailment.