Brazil v South Africa as it happened

GOALFLASHES AND MAJOR INCIDENTS (all times BST)

606: DEBATE Your thoughts on the action

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By Jonathan Stevenson

2133: Right then, time to let you good people get on with the rest of your lives. I'll see you on Sunday for the Confederations Cup final, between Brazil and USA. You could barely make it up. Ciao.

From Grok on 606: "South Africa deserved the game to go to extra-time. Good bob Bafana Bafana, a few years ago you had a real good team and it looks like you have another one!"
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Lee Dixon on BBC Three: "You would arguably say the South Africans were the better team in the way they took the game to Brazil. Their work-rate and the way they played in possession was first-class."

2124: Full-time Brazil 1-0 South Africa
They barely deserved it, but Brazil have reached their fourth Confederations Cup final by squeezing past South Africa. They will meet USA on Sunday.

From Dan, via text on 81111: "Shut up about it ending Stevo! I am just grateful I am watching football, bring on extra-time... Oh wait Brazil just scored. Look what you have done!"

2120: Dani Alves is playing this game on his own - he bursts forward and draws a defender before sliding in Luis Fabiano and he must score, but the Sevilla forward's shot is blocked by Itumeleng Khune.

2119: There is a minute left of normal time and it is looking like a Brazil v USA Confederation Cup final now.

A fabulous effort from a proper footballer - Dani Alves curls it into the far corner past the flailing dive of Itumeleng Khune. It's a fine effort and not what Brazil, South Africa or this game deserved.

2117: GOAL Brazil 1-0 South Africa

2116: Interesting. Aaron Mokoena, flawless for 86 minutes, brings the astonishingly ineffective Ramirez down right on the edge of the South Africa box...

2115: Five minutes left of actual normal time. Please God, let there be a goal. Don't prolong this sporting torture.

2112: Finally, something good happens. Dani Alves, who for my money is a country mile better than Maicon, comes on for Andre Santos. He is wearing a comedy scarf, though, Alves.

2110: The official possession stats show that Brazil are edging it with 51% of the play. Blimey, I'm boring myself now, never mind you lot. It's absolutely rubbish, and a great advert for a summer-long break from football. Damn it.

2108: There are 12 minutes left and we haven't had a single substitution yet. It's like the good old days. Fifa president Sepp Blatter watches on from the stands, draped in a ludicrously enormous white scarf.

From enigmaticenigma on 606: "I never thought I would write this, but this is a pathetic display by Brazil."
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2104: "Boooooooooooooooooooooooth" rings out from the terraces once more as our Matthew dispossesses Luis Fabiano and gets his team moving forward once again.

2103: Siphiwe Tshabalala does really well down the left again for South Africa and Bernard Parker completely misses his header from 15 yards. It's still 0-0, yawn.

2102: Less than 20 minutes left of normal time in Jo'burg and we're heading to extra-time right now, which is probably just what the players want at the end of a long season.

From Daniel, London, via text on 81111: "The players don't care about the competition? Just how important is it anyway? Can you give us the answer in no more than three words, Stevo?"
Honestly? Not very.

2058: Maicon misjudges a ball out on the right and it bounces out of play somewhat embarrassingly. Maybe he's too busy mulling over Manchester City's alleged offer...

2055: For those of you who want to see Brazil v Spain, they might just get to meet after all in the third-placed play-off. If they do, it'll be played at 1400 BST on Sunday.

2052: The quiet Luis Fabiano jinks away from his marker and fires in a low shot from an angle on the right, but Itumeleng Khune makes a decent save at his near post.

2050: Not sure I agree with our friend redandblackT1899, to be honest. Brazil care, they just aren't playing very well, same as Spain yesterday. Everyone's allowed an off day, after all.

From redandblackT1899 on 606: "Am I the only one who thinks the players don't care too much about this competition?"
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2047: Teko Modise sees his shot from 20 yards take a heavy deflection and Julio Cesar has to be alert to scurry across his line and tip the ball behind for a corner. South Africa are starting to enjoy themselves here.

2045: It's still 0-0, and Brazil have caught Spain's passing bug - they are all over the shop at times.

2042: Maicon plays a nice one-two with Luis Fabiano down the right but from his deep cross, Kaka pushes Gaxa and South Africa are given a free-kick. They need to get out of their half, which they haven't done since the break.

2039: Strong run down the left from Kaka, but his pull-back is cleared from danger by Aaron Mokoena, who is playing similarly to how Jay DeMerit did last night.

2037: Robinho blazes a shot miles over the bar from 25 yards. He's been utterly woeful so far. Think of him in Man City's away shirt and you're just about there.

2035: No changes at the break and we are back under way in Johannesburg. Come on goals. We know you're out there.

Marcel Desailly on BBC Three: "It's a completely different game from yesterday. Brazil are not playing collectively at all and South Africa have shown so much enthusiasm - they have shown that even though they are physically inferior, they are not out of it."

From Neil, Arborfield, via text on 81111: "A Spain v Brazil play-off could be amazing. Nothing to play for so both teams play free-flowing stuff. Could even over-shadow the final. Come on Pienaar, turn on the magic."

From Wot Kuyt 'e did on 606: "They're not really playing like a team yet, Brazil. Most of the time they don't need to, but the longer it goes on the more attempts Bafana can get in themselves. Very focused game from them so far."
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Lee Dixon on BBC Three: "South Africa have upset Brazil a little bit, especially in the centre of the park - they have held the Brazilian midfield and they are not having it their own way at all."

Half-time Brazil 0-0 South Africa
That went about as well as South Africa can have expected - but they should fancy their chances of reaching the final because Brazil so far have not been anywhere near their best tonight. USA v South Africa is still very much on.

2019: Brazil win a free-kick 30 yards out for a foul on Andre Santos and his effort from the set-piece is blocked by Steven Pienaar.

2016: Steven Pienaar lets fly with a rasper from 25 yards that Julior Cesar gets across magnificently to tip around the post. Goalkick given. Hmm.

2015: Poor decision from Kaka, who gets possession on halfway after South Africa give the ball away, but with two team-mates in support he shoots for the near post and Itumeleng Khune gets down well to save.

2014: Less than five minutes to go in the first half and we're still 0-0 between Brazil and South Africa. It's been largely rubbish from the Brazilians, too. Maybe they want to play Spain on Sunday?

From plasticoutcom on 606: "I think Robinho and Ramirez are awful. Their constant ineptitude is driving me insane. Kaka must be really frustrated having to go forward with these stooges."
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2010: Almost, almost a stroke of pure genius from £56m man Kaka. He chests down a high ball out on the left, cuts in past two dozing defenders and then attempts a curler from 18 yards that just misses by a fraction. When it's Kaka, you expect to see the net bulging.

2006: Andre Santos chests the ball down 25 yards out and catches a volley as sweet as you like, but his dreamy left-foot effort flies into the arms of the diving Itumeleng Khune.

2004: Super stuff from Kaka, who drifts past two defenders as though they are not there and slips in Ramirez, but the pass is slightly behind him and the midfielder cannot get a shot in.

2002: That's a good old-fashioned free-kick from Siphiwe Tshabalala, who takes a lengthy run-up before hammering in a left-footer from 25 yards that Julio Cesar punches away. Stuart Pearce would like that, no doubt.

From jashana on 606: "I think the 2010 World Cup slogan should be: 'Headaches for all the world!'"
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1958: South Africa have taken their cue from USA - they are not giving Brazil any time in the middle of the park to settle on the ball. And centre-backs Matthew Booth and Aaron Mokoena are doing a fine job too so far.

1954: You won't get a better chance than that, Bafana Bafana. Steven Pienaar floats over a free-kick from the right and Lucio lets Aaron Mokoena go - he's in front of goal, four yards out with just Julio Cesar to beat, but somehow heads over. Easier to score.

1953: We've had 20 minutes and it's nowhere near as entertaining as yesterday's encounter. Brazil need to shake themselves out of their lethargy - or South Africa need to do it for them. A goal would help.

1951: That Siboniso Gaxa gets into some great positions down the right. I hope Mamelodi Sundowns know how lucky they are to have him.

1947: Siboniso Gaxa, who has had a cracking tournament from right-back for South Africa, ghosts past Andre Santos and hammers in a right-foot shot from 25 yards that flies wide of Julio Cesar's right-hand post.

1945: They are now - Ramirez, who has just signed for Benfica, hits a left-foot shot from the edge of the box that Itumeleng Khune gets across comfortably to save.

1944: It's South Africa's turn to enjoy some possession and they knock it around quite nicely for a minute or so until Teko Modise gives it away. No-one's threatening at the moment, though.

1942: There is some chat doing the rounds in South Africa that one of their players has been the subject of a massive bid from an English club. It's Maicon, who plays for Inter Milan, and the bid is worth about 22m Euros. No prizes for guessing who the bid is from, though - the richest club in the world.

1940: It's very slow-paced at the moment, with Brazil enjoying most of the ball but doing very little with it, and not seeming too bothered either. They look cold, half of them.

From bergkamp69 on 606: "I really miss Gilberto Silva. Arsene Wenger should have never let him leave."
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1935: Crikey, the shrieks when South Africa get possession are frightening. I can tell you already, this game is Brazil's to lose - but South Africa are going to have a go.

1933: Thanks to Swiss referee Massimo Busacca, we are under way in the second Confederations Cup semi-final.

1930: A little disappointing that there are masses of empty seats at Ellis Park in Johannesburg tonight. Though if it were full, the noise would probably be unbearable.

1928: By the way, if you do a little F5 manual refresh, you'll see a scorebox appear on the top right of this page. Good, eh?

1926: Did you know? South Africa coach Joel Santana once coached Brazil coach Dunga while he was coach of Vasco de Gama in 1987? Well, you do now. According to a famous information-sharing website, Santana has coached Vasco an incredible four times, and since 1981 has held an astonishing 27 managerial positions. The 60-year-old makes Guus Hiddink look like Sir Alex Ferguson.

1923: The teams are out, the vuvuzelas are blaring out like crazy from the stands and the national anthems are about to be played. Oh by the way, Brazil will wear yellow tonight.

From Ste, Wigan, via text on 81111: "I think Brazil by three to be fair, people. Just bought some awful Brazil-yellow boots, so wearing them waiting for kick-off."

1918: In the face of last night's calamity, I'm going to carry on regardless with another hugely pointless Stevo's Predo:
Brazil 2-1 South Africa

Nelson Mandela with Bafana Bafana coach, Brazilian Joel Santana

1916: But, much like the Americans last night, South Africa will be quietly confident of causing an upset - especially after their meeting with the great Nelson Mandela on Wednesday. Their Brazilian coach Joel Santana was enraptured: "We got goose-bumps when we met Mr. Mandela, a supremely charismatic person. He is so calm and his presence and the way he spoke to us made us all calm. I never in my life never thought I'd have the opportunity I had today. I thought I'd seen it all, but I hadn't."

1913: Omens, omens, omens. There were plenty last night, and there are plenty tonight. Brazil are vying to reach their fourth Confed Cup final, have won their last six games and are unbeaten in 14. They've also beaten South Africa in their only two previous encounters, not to mention all 10 internationals they've played in Africa.

1910: So, er, what do you wanna talk about? The Confed Cup is on the agenda, but let's not pretend this isn't a summer football free-for-all - whatever your chat is, I want it. By text on 81111, and on 606 to boot. Hit me.
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1906: Brazil v South Africa line-ups:
South Africa: Khune; Gaxa, Masilela, Mokoena, Booth; Mhlongo, Dikgacoi, Pienaar, Modise, Tshabalala; Parker.
Brazil: Julio Cesar; Maicon, Lucio, Luisao, Andre Santos; Felipe Melo, Gilberto Silva, Ramires, Kaka; Luis Fabiano, Robinho.
Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).

1904: Just hours after USA's sensational victory over the world's number one team Spain, the mighty Brazil will hope to avoid a potential banana skin of their own. It's a Bafana Bafana banana skin, too - in the shape of Confederations Cup hosts South Africa.

1900: Famously, lightning never strikes twice. I mean, it wouldn't be such a well-worn cliché were it not entirely true, would it? Hmm...
USA stun Spain to reach final