An early goal by Clint Dempsey -- the sixth fastest in World Cup history -- gave the United States national team a shocking lead against Ghana in the teams' opening game of Group G. And a late goal by John Brooks, an inexperienced American defender who came on as second-half substitute, earned the Americans a victory.
The 2-1 win was the United States team's first over Ghana in three World Cup games.
The result belies the dominance Ghana exhibited throughout the game. But the 3 points that the Americans earned with a victory give them a strong start to the touranment and a possible path to the second round.
Dempsey combined with Jermaine Jones to break into the box, executed a deft move past two defenders and slotted a shot into the far corner of the goal from close range after only 34 seconds.
The early goal lifted American fans' anxiety and filled their lungs with enthusiasm. The United States had the earliest lead it had ever held in a World Cup match.
But the early success was persistently chipped away by a determined and skilled Ghana team that dominated possession and sent dangerous crosses from both flanks to the center of the American goal. There, the Black Stars captain, Asamoah Gyan, headed numerous attempts toward goal, but few were on frame and none found the back of the net.
The pressure was intense, and a Ghana goal seemed almost inevitable. Then, in the 82nd minute, Kwadwo Asamoah, a left back who had been pressing up the field all game, cut a through pass into the left side of the American penalty box for Gyan, whose willy back-heel pass landed in Andre Ayew's path. Ayew blasted past Tim Howard at the near post to tie the score.
Brooks, a German born defender who had played only four times for the United States, headed a corner kick from Graham Zusi, another second-half American substitute, in the 86th minute. The improbable goal scorer gave the United States an improbable victory.
Match Highlights
-
Strongest Start Ever
Carlos Barria/ReutersClint Dempsey gave the Americans a very early 1-0 lead.Eight years after he scored his first World Cup goal against Ghana in Germany, Clint Dempsey, the American captain, received a go pass from Jermaine Jones a the top left of the Ghana box after DeMarcus Beasley’s throw-in. He beat two players ably and made his way on Kwarasey’s goal and deftly played the ball across the goal to the far post and kissed it into the corner.
Anxiety lifts, enthusiasm fills American fans’ lungs and the United States has the earliest lead its ever had in a World Cup match.
-
Altidore Goes Down
John Boye was trying to keep up with Jozy Altidore running down the Americans’ left wing as the two raced to keep up with a long ball. Altidore deftly headed it down into his own path when … Disaster for American fans! Altidore pulled up, clutching his left hamstring as he collapsed on his back on the grass. His pained faced and wagging finger said it all. So too did Jurgen Klinsmann’s mouthed vulgarities on the sideline. Altidore is replaced promptly by Aaron Johannsson.
Has to be said: wouldn't it be nice if there was a scorer on the bench right now? #LandonDonovan
— Sam Borden (@SamBorden) June 16, 2014
-
Goal: Ghana Ties the Game
Emmanuel Dunand/Agence France-Presse — Getty ImagesAndre Ayew (left) delivered the tying goal for Ghana.It was only a matter of time. Ghana equalizes from a well scored goal by Andre Ayew. Kwadwo Asamoah, again pressing up the left, plays a well timed through ball to Asamoah Gyan into the left side of the Americans’ penalty box. His quick-witted back-heel pass finds Ayew in stride and he blasts with the outside of his left foot near post past Tim Howard. Ghana 1, U.S.A. 1. Is anyone surprised?
-
Goal: U.S.A. Pulls Ahead, 2-1
John Brooks converts Graham Zusi’s corner kick from the right side, giving the United States a seemingly improbable lead late in its Group G opening match against Ghana. It’s 2-1 for the Americans, despite the fact that Ghana has dominated possession, shots and the game.
-
John Brooks, Really
Laurence Griffiths/Getty ImagesJohn Brooks’s header slipped past keeper Adam Kwarasey for the go-ahead goal.John Brooks was a controversial choice to make the United States team. He had a horrible performance in a warmup match against Ukraine in Cyprus this spring. But when he came on as a second-half substitute, it was to do a job that perhaps only Jurgen Klinsmann had faith he could do. He did that job and more. He held Asamoah Gyan relatively in check. He became the first American substitute to score in a World Cup when his downward header from the penalty spot off Graham Zusi’s corner kick bounced into the top of the Ghana net. A minute later, he defended well against Gyan at the other end, denying the Ghana captain a header on goal.