World Cup: U.S. loses to Ghana 2-1

June 26, 2010 3:59 PM
Chicago Tribune-Breaking Sports
Tribune News Services RUSTENBURG, South Africa -- Asamoah Gyan scored in the third minute of extra time to give Ghana a 2-1 win over the United States and a place in the World Cup quarterfinals.The teams were level at 1-1 through 90 minutes at Royal Bafokeng Stadium before Gyan ran onto a long pass and held off defenders Carlos Bocanegra and Jay DeMerit to smash a left-foot shot over goalkeeper Tim Howard from about 12 meters (yards).Ghana is only the third African team to make it through to the World Cup quarterfinals. It will meet Uruguay at Soccer City on Friday.
Kevin-Prince Boateng had put Ghana ahead in the fifth minute with a low shot from the edge of the area. He ran into space that opened as DeMerit kept retreating, then sent a ferocious shot that beat the diving Howard at his near post.Landon Donovan equalized with a 62nd-minute penalty after Jonathan Mensah got his second yellow card of the tournament, ruling him out of the quarterfinals, for swiping away Clint Dempsey's legs as he broke from deep.Donovan crouched in contemplation as he prepared to take the penalty kick, picking at the grass and ignoring the players around him before getting up to steer his kick in off the right-hand post.It was Donovan's U.S.-record fifth goal at the World Cup and 45th in international football. The United States threw Howard into attack for injury time at the end of the match, but Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson punched the ball away from a corner and the Americans never came any closer. Both teams created enough chances to have won the game in normal time, with Ghana dominating the first 45 minutes before United States coach Bob Bradley stabilized his team at halftime with the second of two substitutions.United States midfielder Ricardo Clark, recalled to the starting lineup in an attempt to add solidity to the American midfield, had given Ghana its first real opening when he gave the ball away under pressure in the center circle.Ghana defended in numbers to deny space for the likes of Donovan and Dempsey to attack from deep, and countered swiftly through Boateng, Dede Ayew, Kwadwo Asamoah and Gyan when it did win possession. Get the full story here.

--http://davidsradiotv2000.blogspot.com