Tahiti crushed again, but wins Brazilian hearts

• by Paul Kennedy  @pkedit, Jun 21, 2013

[CONFEDERATIONS CUP] No, it wasn't 15- or 20-goal rout Tahiti coach Eddy Etaeta, but World Cup champion Spain's 10-0 win over the Oceania champions was easily the largest winning margin in the history of the Confederations Cup. On a day when soccer was overshadowed by growing demonstrations across Brazil -- an estimated 1 million protesters poured into the streets -- Uruguay beat Nigeria, 2-1, in the other Group B match.

Fernando Torres scored four goals and missed a chance for a fifth when he failed to convert a penalty late in the match -- to the delight of the pro-Tahiti crowd of almost 72,000 at Rio's Maracana Stadium.

The Tahitians were not so much disappointed with the 10 goals they conceded as the fact they didn't score like they did in the 6-1 loss to Nigeria in their opener.

''They would have loved to have scored one single goal,'' Etaeta said. ''It didn't happen, there's something missing really. They're a bit disappointed.''

The previous record for the largest margin in the Confederations Cup was six: Brazil's 8-2 win over Saudi Arabia in 1999 and Brazil's 6-0 win over Australia in 1997.

''We lost 10-0," added Etaeta, "but we won the hearts of the Brazilian public. So obrigado, obrigados a tudos."



Diego Forlan celebrated his 100th appearance for Uruguay with the winning goal in a 2-1 win over Nigeria that put the Celeste on course toward a berth in the semifinals.

Uruguay coach Oscar Tabarez paid tribute to the 34-year-old Forlan, calling him "a great professional and a top striker."

"The way he can use both feet, his ball control, he showcased his talents today," Tabarez added. "He won his 100th cap tonight and that is very important for him and it is a tribute to him that he has made it this far."



GROUP A:
June 15
Brazil 3 Japan 0.
Goals: Neymar 3, Paulinho 48, Jo 90+3.
June 16
Italy 2 Mexico 1.
Goals: Pirlo 27, Balotelli 78; Hernandez pen. 34.
June 19
Brazil 2 Mexico 0.
Goals: Neymar 9, Jo 90+3.
Italy 4 Japan 3.
Goals: De Rossi 41, own goal 50, Balotelli pen. 52, Giovinco 86; Honda 21, Kagawa 33, Okazaki 69.
June 22
Japan vs. Mexico 2:30 p.m. ET ESPN/WatchESPN
Italy vs. Brazil 2:30 p.m. ET ESPNEWS/WatchESPN
Standings: Brazil, Italy 6 points; Italy, Japan 0.

GROUP B:
June 16
Spain 2 Uruguay 1.
Goals: Pedro 20, Soldado 32; Suarez 88.
June 17
Nigeria 6 Tahiti 1.
Elderson 5, Oduamadi 10, 26, 76, own goal 68,  Elderson 80; Tehau 56.
June 20
Spain 10 Tahiti 0.
Goals: Fernando Torres 5, 33, 57, 78; David Silva 31, 89; David Villa 39, 49, 64; Juan Mata 66.
Uruguay 2 Nigeria 1.
Goals: Lugano 19, Forlan 51; Mikel 37.
June 23
Nigeria vs. Spain 2:30 p.m. ET ESPN/WatchESPN
Uruguay vs. Tahiti 2:30 p.m. ET ESPN2/WatchESPN
Standings: Spain 6 points; Nigeria, Uruguay 3 points; Uruguay, Tahiti 0.