WORLD CUP: USA claims first win over Ghana
Substitute John Brooks' late header gave theCup Group G clash in Natal.
Ghana were the dominant force in the match
but ended up empty handed and are now
facing an uphill battle to qualify for the last 16,
with games against Germany and Portugal still
to come.
For the States, it was a case of third time
lucky having lost 2-1 to Ghana at both of the
previous two editions of the tournament in
Germany and South Africa.
After just 29 seconds, Clint Dempsey tricked
his way past centre-back John Boye and
opened the scoring, for the fifth fastest goal in
World Cup finals history.
Ghana piled on the pressure, with Sulley
Muntari pulling the strings in midfield, but
were unable to find a way past USA
goalkeeper Tim Howard until the 82nd minute.
Andre Ayew played a one-two with Asamoah
Gyan before smashing the ball past Howard.
However, just four minutes later, Jurgen
Klinsmann's men regained their lead as
Brooks - a half-time replacement for the
injured Matt Besler - headed down Graham
Zusi's corner and saw the ball bounce past
Adam Kwarasey.
A month's worth of rain had fallen in Natal in
the days leading up to this encounter at
Estadio das Dunas (Mexico beat Cameroon
1-0 at the same venue in saturated conditions
on Friday) and the match was not even a
minute old when Dempsey made the
breakthrough.
Collecting a Jermaine Jones flick, he showed
excellent skill and poise to cut away from
Boye and drive home.
The goal was a sucker punch and one which
left Ghana understandably stunned, with Jozy
Altidore wasting a glorious chance to double
the United States' advantage with 19 minutes
on the clock.
It proved to be the Sunderland striker's last
contribution, as running down the flank he
pulled up holding his hamstring and had to be
taken off on a stretcher.
Christian Atsu curled a strike wide and Gyan
saw a fine effort saved by Howard as Ghana
finally began to come into a match which was
halted when Boye gave Dempsey a bloodied
nose with a high boot.
Jordan Ayew spurned a great chance to level
with a scuffed shot in first-half stoppage time
and, when the teams emerged for the second
half, Brooks replaced Besler after the defender
complained of tightness in his hamstring.
It was another injury blow to a USA side now
under the cosh, with Atsu wasting a fine
chance before Muntari sent a fizzing strike just
wide from outside the box.
Gyan powered a close-range header over as
they continued to up the ante, with the former
Sunderland striker soon forcing Howard into
action with another header on goal, this time
from 18 yards.
Atsu, Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng and
Kwadwo Asamoah all had efforts as Akwasi
Appiah's side continued their search for a
leveller, which came eight minutes from time.
After a poor second-half showing, the USA
could have no complaints as Gyan superbly
back heeled into the path for Andre Ayew, who
took a touch and fired home brilliantly with the
outside of his boot.
It looked to secure a deserved point for Ghana,
only for poor defending to render it
meaningless as an unmarked Brooks headed
home four minutes from time.
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