Brazil 2014: Ghana 1-2 USA
Opeyemi Oladunjoye
Goals from Clint Dempsey and John Brooks were enough to give USA all three points in their Group G opener against an unfortunate Ghana in Natal.
American captain, Dempsey had given the Americans the lead after just 32 seconds, but Andre Ayew capitalised on clever work by Asamoah Gyan to beat Tim Howard late into the second-half, before John Brooks’ header gave Jurgen Klinsmann’s side all three points.
With Germany thrashing Portugal earlier in the day, the door was open for both USA and Ghana to cement their chances of progressing from the group stages.
Jurgen Klinsmann was all smiles before kick-off and the German was given even more reason to be cheerful just 31 seconds into the game when Clint Dempsey fired his side in front.
Dempsey took full advantage of some careless Ghanaian defending to dribble his way past John Boye before shooting across the face of Adam Kwarasey’s goal, seeing his firm effort finding the net off of Kwarasey’s far post.
Akwasi Appiah’s side were struggling to find their feet after an emphatic start by the Americans, but eventually began to work their way into the game, even if the Black Stars were not asking too much of Tim Howard in the American goal.
Chelsea’s Christian Atsu, who spent the last season on loan at Vitesse, was the man Ghana were looking to, with the 22-year-old looking lively on the right-side of midfield, playing Asamoah Gyan through on goal only to be thwarted by Tim Howard who was quick off his line to clear the danger.
As the American’s were on the back foot, they were presented with their first injury of the game when Sunderland’s Jozy Altidore pulled up clutching his hamstring after chasing a long ball from Michael Bradley.
Altidore, who has endured a miserable first season on Wearside, has seen his World Cup likely come to an end in the cruellest way, having to be replaced by AZ Alkmaar’s Aron Johannson. Altidore’s injury occurred just several minutes after he had squandered a great chance to make it 2-0, taking too long to control the ball at his feet and seeing his shot blocked by John Boye.
Ghana began to take control as the half progressed, but struggled to break down a stubborn American defence, with Geoff Cameron and Matt Besler impressing.
Asamoah Gyan forced Tim Howard into a diving save with a bending shot late into the first-half, but Ghana were lacking any bite in the final third, failing to take advantage of their dominance on the ball.
The second-half began with the Americans being forced into another injury enforced change, with Matt Besler also struggling with a hamstring problem, replaced by John Brooks.
Whilst Besler and Cameron had kept Ghana’s attacking options quiet in the first-half, Brooks very nearly made a costly error with his first contribution. The tall centre-back’s clearance sliced into the path of Asamoah Gyan, with the defender lucky to have been thought to be fouled by Gyan by referee Jonas Eriksson.
Akwasi Appiah decided a change of personnel was needed, bringing on Kevin-Prince Boateng for Jordan Ayew, and the Schalke midfielder had a positive impact as Ghana began to play with more purpose going forward.
Asamoah Gyan was being given the chances to draw Ghana level, but was uncharacteristically poor in front of goal, missing several chances that came his way.
Kwadwo Asamoah, ineffective for most of the game, found Asamoah Gyan in the USA box who passed the ball to Ayew who beat the impressive Tim Howard with an improvised finish.
The equaliser brought the game back to life, with Ghana looking the more likely to find a winner, but it was to be the Americans who had the last laugh.
Earning a corner after great work from Fabian Johnson, substitute, Graham Zusi found John Brooks who headed powerfully past Kwarasey to send the vocal American support into euphoria.
The goal was Brooks’s first for USA and his emotional celebration showed just how much the goal meant to him, and more than made up after his shaky introduction into the game.
Ghana attacked once more, but failed to find a way through, with Sulley Muntari blazing Ghana’s last chance high and wide, giving the American’s real hope that they can progress at Portugal’s expense.