Stars in Stripes Defeat Stars and Stripes in Epic Encounter

USA 1 : 2 Ghana after extra time

Match Photos from Rustenburg on Examiner

The American World Cup dream ended in Rustenburg tonight as a superb match ended 2-1 to the Black Stars of Ghana after extra time. Landon Donovan scored the US goal with a penalty kick on the hour after Jonathan Mensah tripped Clint Dempsey.

The game had started disastrously for the US as once more they conceded a cheap goal very early. But again they showed a fighting spirit and hauled themselves back into the match, even though they spent the first 25 minutes struggling for form.

“We went down a goal early one too many times” said coach Bob Bradley after the game. “It’s a stinging tough defeat. We knew they were a good team but we didn’t get the job done. Gyan is physically a real handful. That was probably the area that took care of things.”

US coach Bradley brought in Ricardo Clark for Maurice Edu and Robbie Findley returned from suspension in attack for Hercules Gomez. FC Basel’s Samuel Inkoom replaced Hoffenheim’s Prince Tagoe up front for Ghana.

The United States fell again to the curse of conceding an early goal. Less than 300 seconds had elapsed when Kevin Prince Boateng changed the course of the game.

Ricardo Clark whose body language suggested he didn’t really want the ball, was robbed by Kwadwo Asamoah on the half way line. He found Boateng just inside the US half. The Portsmouth striker charged untackled towards the US goal where he finished cleanly low to Tim Howard’s right. It was Ghana’s first goal from open play in this World Cup after relying on two penalties in the group stages. For the USA, it deja-vu all over Rustenburg.

The USA were behind early yet again in this world cup as they had been to England and down by two to Slovenia. Clark’s frustration was evident as he picked up a booking shortly after to leave him vulnerable for most of the game to a second yellow.

Jozy Alitdore had America’s first chance in twelve minutes but he blasted wide from a distance and the US were struggling to contain the lively Africans, playing in red and yellow stripes.

Steve Cherundolo lost the ball to André Ayew and then fouled him trying to tackle back. He became the second US player booked. Gyan forced an excellent save from Howard from the free kick.

25 minutes were gone and Michael Bradley had to provide two key defensive headers inside a minute. One gave a way a corner and the second enabled Howard to gather it cleanly to avert any danger, as Ghana repeatedly found more space.

Boateng hit a drive all along the ground in 28 minutes, but it was easily collected by Howard, by far the busier of the two keepers in a worrying opening half hour for Bradley.

Ricardo Clark had not really recovered from the early goal and booking, and he was removed for the man he had replaced in the starting line up, Maurice Edu. It was a move reminiscent of Fabio Capello’s forced removal of James Milner after half an hour of England’s game v USA. Bradley admitted afterwards that he removed Clark solely because of concerns about the yellow card.

35 minutes had passed before USA had a clear sight of goal. Robbie Findley though was denied by the feet of Richard Kingson when Clint Dempsey put him clean through on goal.

Howard then saved the US from going 2-0 down when Inkoom headed on a Kingson long clearance. Assamoah latched onto it, outpaced Jay DeMerit, and forced an excellent save from Howard diving low to his right at the near post.

US coach Bradley removed Findley for Benny Feihlhaber at half time, choosing to play the second of his three substitute cards very early. His shake up was to change the game back in the USA’s favour.

Feihlhaber was presented with a superb chance within 90 seconds of coming on. Altidore found himself in the six yard box but with his back to goal. He turned 90 degrees clockwise and found Feilhaber in a shooting position, but the substitute’s shot was saved by the hand of a very brave Kingson in goal.

Altidore and Dempsey were both a yard short to getting a vital touch on a dangerous inswinging Donovan cross as the US made a better imprint on the second half than they had on the early part of the first. Then cane the moment that could have changed the match the USA’s way.

Jay DeMerit made a vital interception to an Ayew cross as he stuck out a leg to prevent the ball falling to a waiting Assamoah Gyan who would surely have scored Ghana’s second in the 59th minute.

That saving tackle proved to be crucial. The ball headed straight to the other end, and Jonathan Mensah clumsily brought down Clint Dempsey inside the penalty area. The Hungarian referee pointed to the penalty spot. Landon Donovan stepped up and stroked the penalty in off the post, scoring for the third consecutive game.

Kingson did however deny Altidore by rushing smartly off his line as US took control. But Carlos Bocanegra then took a yellow for fouling the lone striker Gyan as the 70 minute mark approached. Tim Howard caught Assamoah’s free kick cleanly.

Michael Bradley found himself in a shooting position and an onside position, but he didn’t really force Kingson into anything but a regulation save. The Americans were by now the better side but the superiority was marginal and not translating into clear scoring chances.

Ten minutes from the end of regulation time, a hopeful punt up the pitch from the left back position was allowed to travel until it reached Jozy Altidore who found himself under pressure in front of goal. He shot wide as he lost his balance under close attention from a defender.

It was the last meaningful chance of a ninety minutes which the Ghanaians had finished slightly the stronger. In the 90 minutes, Ghana had outshot the US 15-13, but the USA led 6-5 in on target efforts.

Hercules Gomez replaced Jozy Altidore at full time.

US started extra time even worse than they had normal time. 140 seconds had gone when Gyan fought off a weak challenge from his team mate at French club Rennes, Carlos Bocanegra. Gyan recovered his balance to fire past Howard with a fierce left foot effort. It was not a good moment for Bocanegra who can expect to hear more about it when he returns to club training.

Feilhaber had a shot deflected wide for a corner as USA pressured for a second leveler. Bocanegra was first to the corner but headed wide although Edu had committed an offence and the header would not have counted.

Ghana survived the first half of extra time with their lead intact.

Three minutes into the second period of extra time, Kingson had to punch away a Donovan free kick.

As the US searched desperately for a goal, Dempsey had a shot blocked by a stomach, Gomez picked up the rebound but his shot was deflected wide.

From the corner Jay Demerit hooked over. Clint Dempsey headed another cross wide as the States continued to create chances until they finally ran out of time.

On the day, the American players did their sport and their country proud. Ghana remain Africa’s sole standard bearer in the competition but will need to step it up at least one level to take on a good Uruguayan side.

United States: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 15-Jay DeMerit, 12-Jonathan Bornstein, 3-Carlos Bocanegra; 10-Landon Donovan, 4-Michael Bradley, 13-Ricardo Clark, 8-Clint Dempsey; 17-Jozy Altidore, 20-Robbie Findley.

Subs: Guzan, Spector, Onyewu, Beasley, Gomez, Holden, Buddle, Torres,
Edu, Goodson, Feilhaber, Hahnemann.

Ghana: 22-Richard Kingson; 4-John Pantsil, 8-Jonathan Mensah, 5-John Mensah, 2-Hans Sarpei; 6-Anthony Annan, 7-Samuel Inkoom, 23-Kevin-Prince Boateng, 13-Dede Ayew; 21-Kwadwo Asamoah, 3-Asamoah Gyan.

Subs: Adjei, Derek Boateng, Appiah, Muntari, Tagoe, Amoah, Rahim Ayew, Adiyah, Addy, Owusu-Abeyie, Ahorlu.

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