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US Ousted by Ghana in World Cup
It was déjà vu as the Black Stars of Ghana for the second consecutive World Cup eliminated the US 2-1. Asamoah Gyan on a stretched US defense knocked in the winning goal in the third minute of extra time to send our boys home early.
The same problem the US had during the Group Stage reared its ugly head yet again despite US coach Bob Bradley inserting Ricardo Clark in the place of Maurice Edu to start. It didn’t work when in the fifth minute Clark got his pocket picked in the midfield leading to Kevin-Prince Boateng scoring a goal for the Black Stars - their only non-penalty kick goal they’ve scored in the tournament. The US seemed to be asleep in the first half. By the 31st minute Bradley admitted his gamble didn’t work subbing in Edu for Clark to regain some control.
However that control never came in the first half as Ghana clogged up the midfield possessing the ball for 52% of the half and getting nine shots on goal.
In the second half with Benny Feilhaber coming in for Robbie Findley optimism was borne as he helped spark the US play with an immediate scoring chance in the 47th minute that Feilhaber just missed. But they persisted and on a break in the 61st minute, Feilhaber was fouled in the box by Jonathan Mensah. With the weight of the nation on his shoulders, Landon Donovan converted the penalty kick in the 62nd minute to draw the US even with the Black Stars.
After the Gyan goal early in extra time, it was clear the legs of the Americans were too tired to make another miracle comeback.
Ghana now goes on to face Uruguay on Monday as the US head home.
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