U.S. Soccer Shocks Italy for First Time in 78 Years

It wasn’t quite the U.S. hockey team’s 1980 “Miracle on Ice” victory over the U.S.S.R.

However, it was a global soccer shocker nonetheless.

This week’s stunning 1-0 upset of four time world champions Italy by the U.S. soccer team on Italian soil ranks as one of the most celebrated wins in American soccer history—even though the match in Genoa was just an exhibition.

The Yanks have never defeated the historically dominant Italians in all eleven matches the two countries have contested spanning the past 78 years.

So, through the eyes of a star-studded Serie A side, losing to a universally understood underdog U.S. squad, is comparable to an all-star laden U.S. basketball team falling to Venezuela, Egypt or Denmark.

31^st in the most recent world FIFA rankings, the U.S bested the 8^th ranked Azzurri, although the superior Italians out shot them 19:4.

This surprise victory is certain to force FIFA followers to take note of a newly transformed American team comprised of both wily veterans and a core of electric, yet unproven, young talent.

Pesky Clint Dempsey’s goal in the 55^th minute proved to be the Mike Eruzione game winner for the U.S, while goalie, Tim Howard, repeatedly rejected the Italians’ advances in Genoa much like “Miracle on Ice” goalie Jim Craig stymied the powerful Russians in Lake Placid over 30 years ago.

Sure, the parallel may be a stretch, so whistle me for a yellow card or banish me to five minutes in the penalty box for crazy comparisons.

However, what can’t be argued is that the 1-0 shocker in Italy serves as Jurgen Klinsmann’s most significant win since assuming the helm as U.S. Soccer’s national team coach last year, and the 1-0 shutout victory will immediately boost the team's FIFA world rank.

And, the Yanks’ soccer shocker over the heavily favored Italians should bolster the U.S. team’s confidence as it begins its qualifying round in June for the 2014 World Cup in Brazil where a “Miracle of the Pitch” against the perennially-powerful European and South American squads is now more likely to happen.

Straight talk. No static.

MIKE – aka Mike Raffone – thee ultimate talking head on sports!

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