The U.S. Men’s National Team slayed the Grim Reaper to open the 2014 FIFA World Cup, beating Ghana, 2-1, in the group of Death. Ghana had been the team that eliminated the Americans in the last two World Cups.
Clint Dempsey gave his team a 1-0 lead just 34 seconds into the game. It was the sixth quickest goal in World Cup history. But it was a header by John Anthony Brooks off a Graham Zusi corner kick in the closing minutes of the game that was the game-winner. It came after Ghana had tied the game inside of the final seven minutes of regulation.
Brooks became the first U.S. MNT substitute to score a goal in a FIFA World Cup. Dempsey became the first USA player to score in three separate World Cups and U.S. MNT goalkeeper Tim Howard made four saves to lead the squad to its third opening-game win in the tournament. It also marked the USA’s first international win against Ghana.
The win gave the U.S. three points in Group G, along with Germany, a 4-0 win over Portugal. the U.S. plays Portugal on Sunday.
Goal Scoring Rundown:
USA – Clint Dempsey (Jermaine Jones), 1st minute: The USA scored its quickest goal in FIFA World Cup history, needing a mere 30 seconds to take a one-goal lead against Ghana. DaMarcus Beasley played the ball up to Jermaine Jones on the left side, who then fed it to Clint Dempsey and the U.S. captain did all the rest, taking four touches and carving his way between Ghana’s Mubarak Wakaso and Sulley Muntari. Dempsey’s left-footed shot eluded the kick save attempt from goalkeeper Adam Kwarasay and ricocheted off of the right post and over the goal line. USA 1, GHA 0
GHA – Andre Ayew (Asamoah Gyan), 82nd minute: Ghana worked the ball up the left side to Asamoah Gyan, whose effective back heel pass from the left side of the box helped split up the USA back line. Andre Ayew corralled the ball and with the outside of his foot, found the inside of the left post past USA goalkeeper Tim Howard for the late equalizer. USA 1, GHA 1
USA – John Brooks (Graham Zusi), 86th minute: Second-half sub Graham Zusi took the corner kick from the right side and spotted center back John Brooks in the middle of the box. Ghana’s John Boye did not stick with the young USA defender and Brooks drove his header from eight yards out into the ground, bouncing it into the roof of the frame for the thrilling one-goal lead. Brooks became the 20th U.S. MNT player to score in a FIFA World Cup. USA 2, GHA 1 (FINAL)
Key Saves and Defensive Stops:
GHA – Daniel Opare, 19th minute: The USA created a promising moment when Alejandro Bedoya found right back Fabian Johnson, who delivered a searching cross from the right side that rolled through the box. Jozy Altidore lunged to his right with the shot and Ghana defender Daniel Opare came up with the block to prevent the USA from running away with the match in the early going.
USA – Tim Howard, 32nd minute: Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan created enough space outside the box against USA midfielder Michael Bradley and fired toward the right side of the frame. Tim Howard dove to his left for a strong punch save to maintain the 1-0 lead.
USA – Tim Howard, 58th minute: Jordan Ayew’s snap header from near the top of the box caused a scare for the USA as he got some pace behind the shot, despite some good pressure from U.S. center back Geoff Cameron. Though Ayew’s shot might have been headed toward the outside of the frame, U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard took no chances and deflected the Ghana attack wide of the post to give up a corner kick.
Match: U.S. Men’s National Team vs. Ghana
Date: June 16, 2014
Competition: 2014 FIFA World Cup – Group G
Venue: Estadio das Dunas; Natal, Brazil
Kickoff: 6 p.m. ET
Attendance: 39,760
Weather: 81 degrees, cloudy
Scoring Summary: 1 2 F
USA 1 1 2
GHA 0 1 1
USA – Clint Dempsey (Jermaine Jones) 1st minute
GHA – Andre Ayew (Asamoah Gyan) 82
USA – John Brooks (Graham Zusi) 86
Lineups:
USA: 1-Tim Howard; 23-Fabian Johnson, 20-Geoff Cameron, 5-Matt Besler (6-John Brooks, 46), 7-DaMarcus Beasley; 11-Alejandro Bedoya (19-Graham Zusi, 77), 15-Kyle Beckerman, 13-Jermaine Jones, 4-Michael Bradley; 8-Clint Dempsey (capt.), 17-Jozy Altidore (9-Aron Johannsson, 23)
Subs Not Used: 2-DeAndre Yedlin, 3-Omar Gonzalez, 10-Mix Diskerud, 12-Brad Guzan, 14-Brad Davis, 16-Julian Green, 18-Chris Wondolowski, 21-Timmy Chandler, 22-Nick Rimando
Head Coach: Jurgen Klinsmann
GHA: 12-Adam Kwarasey; 4-Daniel Opare, 19-Jonathan Mensah, 21-John Boye, 20-Kwadwo Asamoah; 17-Mohammed Rabiu (5-Michael Essien, 71), 7-Christian Atsu (14-Albert Adomah, 78), 11-Sulley Muntari,13- Jordan Ayew (9-Kevin-Prince Boateng, 59); 3-Asamoah Gyan (capt.), 10-Andre Ayew
Subs Not Used: 1-Stephen Adams, 2-Samuel Inkoom, 6-Afriyie Acquah, 8-Agyemang Badu, 15-Mohammed Awal, 16-Fatawu Dauda, 18-Abdul Majeed Waris, 22-Mubarak Wakaso, 23-Harrison Afful
Head Coach: James Kwesi Appiah
Stats Summary: USA / GHA
Shots: 8 / 21
Shots on Goal: 6 / 3
Saves: 4 / 3
Corner Kicks: 3 / 7
Fouls: 12 / 10
Offside: 1 / 5