German-born US defender John Brooks came off the bench to stun Ghana with a late winner that gave his side a 2-1 victory in their FIFA World Cup Group G opener in Natal, Brazil, on Monday.
Clint Dempsey opened the scoring after just 30 seconds, before Brooks’ dramatic goal sent US coach Jurgen Klinsmann wild with delight.
Andre Ayew equalized for Ghana eight minutes before the end, but Brooks’ first goal for his adopted country avenged US defeats in the past two World Cups, the latter when Ghana went on to the quarter-finals.
Photo: AFP
It was only the third time in 12 World Cup finals games that the US have scored more than one goal.
The result left Ghana, who four years ago became only the third African side to qualify for the quarter-finals, with a lot of work to do to get to the second round and their next meeting against the Mannschaft on Saturday could be make or break for Kwesi Appiah’s side.
“Looking at the performance, we did not do badly. I don’t think we disgraced ourselves,” said Appiah, the first Ghanaian to coach the Black Stars at the World Cup.
Photo: EPA
Appiah denied rumors that his players’ performance was hindered by locker room unrest, but admitted the Black Stars are still awaiting full payment of bonuses.
“I’m surprised to hear this,” he said. “I mean, fine. Some of the monies haven’t been paid yet, but that has got nothing to do” with their performance.
Ghana’s minds did appear to be elsewhere after kickoff and they paid for it when Dempsey deftly collected from Da Marcus Beasley as he ran down the left flank.
The Team USA captain feinted his way into the area before dribbling past John Boye to sweep a left-footed shot past Adam Kwarasey, prompting Klinsmann, who won the 1990 World Cup with Germany as a player and coached his native country to third place in 2006, to explode with joy as the US netted the fifth-fastest goal in tournament history.
Gahna were given hope when Ayew beat Howard with the outside of his left boot, but Berlin-born Brooks, whose selection by Klinsmann caused considerable controversy, denied them a draw.
Brooks was not the only source of controversy on Monday, as protesters burned a US flag near the stadium in Natal. They also burned a FIFA flag as they rallied against “imperialism.”
Anti-World Cup demonstrations also took place in Curitiba. After being repelled by police near the Arena da Baixada, protesters regrouped downtown and used bricks and construction debris to smash up banks.
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