USA Eliminated From World Cup by Ghana in Extra Time

RUSTENBURG, South Africa -- There is something about those few moments after kickoff that bewilder and bedevil this U.S. national team, which otherwise seems so confident and composed. Twice during Saturday evening's World Cup round-of-16 match against Ghana here in the mining outpost of Rustenburg, the Americans yielded a goal shortly after the referee's whistle. The second one, and fourth overall in this tournament, would spell their doom.

In a game of shifting momentum that saw each team hold sway at times, it was Ghana forward Asamoah Gyan who would settle matters. His brilliantly-taken goal just three minutes into overtime lifted the Black Stars -- Africa's only remaining team in the tournament -- to a 2-1 victory and a priceless berth in the quarterfinals. For the U.S., a stirring run that galvanized so many fans at home came to an abrupt end, just a few days after that memorable win over Algeria.

Several players on each team had the result in their hands at Royal Bafokeng Stadium. The inevitable loser would of course look back and rue the plays that could have gone differently. Either team could have won. Gyan, and the U.S.'s continuing tendency to sleepwalk after kickoff, proved the difference.

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The Backbreaker

Carlos Bocanegra and Gyan are teammates at French club Rennes, and at the crucial moment of the 2010 World Cup for the U.S., it was the opponent who won the duel. In the 93rd minute, three minutes into overtime, a high long ball from midfield left the pair in a race toward the U.S. goal. Gyan nudged in front of the U.S. captain and brought the ball down well off the left side of his chest.


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The ball dropped perfectly, bounced a couple of times, and before Jay DeMerit could reach him, Gyan uncorked a vicious shot that blew through goalkeeper Tim Howard and in.

Tragic for the U.S., but a fabulous finish and certainly a goal worthy of a berth in the quarterfinals. The Americans fought hard to equalize and came relatively close, but exhaustion and a resolute Ghana defense were too much to overcome.

The Consequences

Ghana will advance to play Uruguay in the quarterfinals next Friday in Johannesburg, a game that will produce the World Cup's requisite surprise semifinalist. The U.S. undoubtedly will feel it was good enough to have advanced that far, but Gyan made the play when it counted.

U.S. coach Bob Bradley and several players have said throughout this tournament that tight games often come down to single moments. Gyan rose to meet his, and several U.S. players did not. That's what separated the two teams.

The U.S. leaves the World Cup 1-1-2, having advanced from their first-round group. That was the stated goal from the beginning. But to do so in such compelling circumstances, and to come so close to earning a berth in what seemed like a winnable quarterfinal before faltering, will leave a lot of lingering pain.

Playing With Fire

The Americans tempted fate once again at this World Cup, yielding yet another early goal -- this time to Ghana's Kevin-Prince Baoteng. The 5th-minute strike resulted from a midfield turnover by Ricardo Clark. It was Boateng, who plays for England's Portsmouth, who stripped Clark and raced toward goal from more than 50 yards away.


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U.S. National Team

There was room to run, and as DeMerit retreated, a shooting angle opened up. Clark was chasing, but before he reached Boateng, the Ghanaian hit a long, low shot that beat Howard inside the left post. Howard looked poorly positioned on the play, as did many of his teammates.

Ghana hadn't managed a goal from the run of play in their first 270 minutes of the World Cup. Against the slow-starting U.S., it took them only five.

Clark was shown a yellow card for a hard tackle in midfield just a minute later. Bradley replaced him with Maurice Edu in the 31st minute.

Another Comeback

For the U.S., an early deficit sets up the inevitable comeback. A bold start to the second half, which featured the entry of Benny Feilhaber for Robbie Findley and another stint at forward for Clint Dempsey, led to a deserved equalizer just after the hour mark.

It was Dempsey who earned the foul with the sort of moment of individual inspiration that only he (on the U.S.) can conjure -- this time it was a quick nutmeg of Ghana's John Mensah that put the Black Stars' defense in disarray. Dempsey barreled into the penalty area, where he was cleaned out by Jonathan Mensah -- yes, a different player.

Landon Donovan stepped up to take the most important penalty kick in U.S. history, and the first awarded to the Americans since the 1950 World Cup. He hit it high off the inside of the right post and in, leveling the score and tying him for the tournament scoring lead with three goals.

Missed Opportunities

The U.S. had plenty of chances to walk off the field winners after 90 minutes, with close calls coming before and after Donovan's penalty. The Americans have shown a consistent ability to create chances in this World Cup, and Saturday was no exception.

The first half hour was brutal for the U.S., with Ghana, led by Andre Ayew, tearing down the U.S. right and forcing Donovan to defend and Steve Cherundolo to take a yellow card that meant a quarterfinal suspension.

Be sure to stay with FanHouse for complete coverage from South Africa, as columnist Kevin Blackistone and soccer editor Brian Straus will be on location for the duration of the tournament.

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The Americans had their first real chance in the 35th, and it fell to Robbie Findley. Inserted for his speed, Findley wasted his opportunity to prove himself a finisher, hitting a wide-open shot from 12 yards straight to Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson. Findley was removed from the game at halftime.

The U.S. settled down and got Donovan involved in the offense in the second half, and he nearly set up a goal two minutes after the break. His counterattack led to a Feilhaber shot that was acrobatically saved by Kingson at close range.

After Donovan's goal, Altidore and Michael Bradley had their own opportunities, but each time the outstanding Kingson, who plays for England's Wigan Athletic, was up to the challenge. Bradley likely had more time than he thought on his 76th-minute bid, but he had to turn to shoot and hit his left-footer within reach of the goalie.

Ghana, of course, had their moments as well, and certainly looked like the stronger team at the end of regulation. But Howard, DeMerit and the American defense held firm.

Feilhaber had the Americans' best chance in overtime (there was plenty of possession but not many clear-cut looks at goal), but his shot was blocked by a defender. Feilhaber turned and pounded his fists in the air. It was that kind of night. Several crosses during the second 15-minute overtime period were cleared by the Black Stars, and a chance off a late American corner sailed just over.

A couple of Ghanaians suffered timely injuries that forced delays in the action. At one point, Samuel Inkoom just decided to lie down for two minutes, and of course popped back up off the stretcher as soon as it reached the sideline.

Man of the Match

For the U.S., Dempsey earns the nod. When the Americans were under pressure, Dempsey still took the initiative to attack, and when momentum swung toward the U.S., he proved to be the most dangerous player. His effort, both against Algeria and on Saturday at Royal Bafokeng, was exhaustive. He was fouled and roughed up repeatedly but continued to take defenders on, create problems for the opposition and find his teammates with good passes.

But it was his commitment that impressed, and it should erase any questions people have about Dempsey's value and devotion to the national team. His late header that rolled just past the left post was the Americans' last gasp of the game.

For the game itself, Gyan, of course. Score a goal like that to take your team to the quarterfinals, and all the plaudits are yours.