US prevail in late drama
June 17, 2014
At the third try, the US have finally beaten Ghana at a World Cup. Goals from Clint Dempsey and John Anthony Brooks were enough to give Klinsmann's side a crucial three points on Monday in the difficult Group G.
The captain, Dempsey, opened the scoring just 30 seconds into the match after beating his man, dribbling the ball into the box and sending a low finish past Adam Kwarasey to put the Americans ahead. It was the fastest goal of the World Cup so far, and the fifth fastest in tournament history.
But quick elation was followed by nearly 90 minutes of setbacks and tense nerves. Striker Jozy Altidore - the lone hold-up forward on the US roster - pulled up with a hamstring injury around the 20 minute mark. Unable to play any further part, he was swapped for Aron Johannson.
The departure of Altidore seemed to signal the end of the US' possession in the final third. From then on, Ghana controlled possession, with the Americans only rarely breaking forward on the counterattack.
The injury problems continued for the US as halftime approached.
Dempsey had to spend several minutes on the sideline after being kicked in the face by Ghana's John Boye while fighting for the ball. He was left with a bloodied, swollen nose, but carried on. Center back Matt Besler was able to limp his way to the break, but was replaced by German-American John Anthony Brooks at the start of the second half.
Ghana fight back
Ghana continued their offensive onslaught in the second period, but their poor finishing continued to let them down.
Kevin-Prince Boateng, who told broadcaster ARD after the match that he was "surprised" to be left out of the starting 11, entered the match on the hour mark. Often a dangerous scoring addition to the Ghana lineup, the Schalke midfielder was unable to make an impact on the pitch in Natal.
By the 82nd minute, Ghana's offensive dominance rewarded them with a goal. In a near carbon copy of Dempsey's run into the area that put the Americans ahead, Andre Ayew cut into the box from the left wing and beat goalkeeper Tim Howard at the near post. Asamoah Gyan, the man who had missed many of Ghana's best earlier chances, had turned provider with a tasty backheel to play in Ayew.
It was a deserved goal, and looked destined to deflate US hopes that were sky-high early on in the match. But then the Americans found their unexpected savior.
With four minutes remaining in regulation, a pair of substitutes combined to put the US 2-1 ahead. Graham Zusi's corner found Brooks in the box, and the Berlin-born Hertha man headed into the net - becoming the first American defender to score in a World Cup since Italy 1990.
"We can be happy that we got the three points with the nice header from Brooks. We're just enjoying this moment now," the Americans' standout defender of the match, Fabian Johnson, told ARD.
After Portugal's 4-0 loss to a high-octane Germany side earlier in the day, the US' three points leaves them well-positioned to make a run for the Round of 16. Ghana, who had knocked the Americans out of the last two World Cups, must fear for their tournament hopes - they're up against Germany this coming Saturday (21.06.2014).