Individual Errors Cost Ghana Dear Against the USA
In what could be considered an elimination match, Ghana’s two key errors led to early and late goals for team USA that secured a vital victory for them. Although Ghana can and should take some positives from the game it was a bitterly disappointing result which leaves us a mountain to climb if we are to have any hope of qualifying for the next round.
In contrast to our last meeting with the USA four years ago in South Africa it was the USA that took a staggeringly early lead with just 29 seconds on the clock when Clint Dempsey waltzed past the hapless defending of John Boye before slotting past Adam Kwarasey in goal with a low strike into the corner of the net. It was the worst possible start for Ghana in what most would have considered a must win (or at worse a MUST-NOT-LOSE) game for both sides considering the relative strength of the other teams in the group.
To be fair to Ghana, after absorbing the shock of the early set back the Black Stars gradually took hold of the match by dominating possession and creating half chances to equalize. The issue was with Ghana’s preferred pattern of play which regularly resulted in long balls slung up top to our strike pair of Asamoah Gyan and Jordan Ayew and aimless crosses particularly down the right flank by the energetic if slightly raw pair of Christian Atsu and right back Daniel Opare. Although chances were at a premium, Ghana were causing the USA problems as Jurgen Klinsmann's side ceded the territorial advantage by dropping deeper and deeper into their own half happy to defend and launch counter attacks when possible. This tactic meant Ghana found it hard to break down the stubborn American resistance to our attacks, with only Asamoah Gyan’s long shot troubling their ‘keeper. Jordan Ayew could and should have done better when Atsu broke down the right wing and pulled the ball back to the Sochaux striker only for him to tamely hit the ball into the hands of the grateful keeper.
The score remained 0-1 to the Americans at the half. Ghana’s performance did improve in the second half with slight variation in play with more balance in attack. Juventus' left wing back Kwadwo Asamoah was having greater influence on play and getting on the ball to fire in dangerous crosses. A glorious chance to equalise came from a great cross from the left by AC Milan’s Sulley Muntari but unfortunately Asamoah Gyan’s header wasn't on target and did not test US & Everton goalkeeper Tim Howard. Ghana peppered the US goal with further shots from Atsu, Asamoah and Muntari without success. At this point it was clear that Ghana was the technically superior team and with the introduction of Kevin Prince Boateng (replacing the ineffective Jordan Ayew) it did look as though only one team was likely to score at that point.
The equaliser did eventually arrive in the 83rd minute after consistent Ghanaian pressure culminating in a nice move coming once again from our left side. Neat interplay between Asamoah and Ayew resulted into Gyan finding space down the left side of the USA penalty box. A clever back heal from Gyan into the path of the onrushing Ayew created Ghana’s best chance of the game and the son of Abedi ‘Pele’ Ayew did not disappoint with his left footed finish low to the near post. Finally Ghana’s pressure had told and the game was level, you got the feeling there was only one team that would go onto to win it, however that wasn't the case.
The energy exerted chasing the game seemed to take effect on Ghana as they weren't able to find any rhythm after their goal. In fact it was the US team that were galvanized into action further up the pitch, where they had offered precious little in the second half. Substitute Graham Zusi and Fabian Johnson did manage to create a few scares by breaking down the left side of Ghana’s defence. This was also the channel to which good hustle play by the United States created the decisive corner kick. In what should have been a goal kick to Ghana, centre back Jonathan Mensah showed a lack of composure in this situation and was unable to let the ball roll out of play without touching it due to the pressure he was under from US right back Fabian Johnson.
The corner from Zusi was perfect for his fellow US sub John Brooks who powered home a header that left Ghana's keeper little chance to save it. Parity that Ghana had worked so hard for only lasted 3 minutes. Once again we were caught cold with another American sucker punch. Ghana weren't able to muster any danger in the waning minutes of the match and the game ended in a famous victory for the USA. Sweet revenge for America means Ghana is left to rue their missed chances as well as their tactical approach and team selection. Many questions will be asked of the Black Stars coach Kwesi Appiah after electing not to start with Boateng or Michael Essien. Upfront our two strikers often occupied the same spaces and made similar runs into the box meaning it was more difficult to pick anyone out with our numerous crosses that were meat and drink the bigger and taller American central defenders.
The Black Stars will need to regroup quickly as they now have the daunting task of needing to take points (including at least 1 win) from games against European giants Germany and Portugal to have any hope of qualifying for the next round. We should take positives from this game knowing all in all, we were the better team and our mistakes rather than any brilliance from the Americans cost us the game. Immediate improvement is needed to restore pride and hope for qualification in our next game against three times champions Germany.
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