Moments after Clint Dempsey’s effort was turned away, Kevin-Prince Boateng robbed Ricardo Clark of possession in the center circle, took off in an exhilarating run, and shot a low ball past Tim Howard for Ghana’s first 2010 WC goal from open play.
Perhaps Team USA had been lulled into complacency by watching their opponents’ rather easy-going style in their previous matches. Perhaps they put too much store in the fact that Ghana’s 4-points had come from 2 penalties. No question that the Black Stars’ crisp, forceful, organized start took them by surprise. Kingson, who in earlier games had sometimes looked flustered and uneasy in goal, displayed polish and poise against the Americans. He had less to deal with; Howard was the busier keeper. More worrisome for those face-painted in stars & stripes was the ominous deja vú of watching the USA repeat their pattern of ceding early in the game. Would’ve been nice to see them ahead for a while, or even at least, instead of chasing the game once again.
By the 2nd half, the USA calmed down and set about testing the opposition, looking for exploitable cracks in the Black Stars’ defense. Their perseverance paid off on 62 minutes when Dempsey was brought down in the box and the USA was awarded a penalty. Landon Donovan converted from the spot, evening the score on 62 minutes. Great ball, well-struck… but seemed to me the Americans were a bit lucky with the call. It wasn’t the best tackle, but I thought Mensah got the ball before the man. Could’ve gone either way.
The half ended 1 – 1, pushing the match into overtime. Unfortunately for the USA, OT was deja vú all over again. Barely had they returned to the pitch, when Bocanegra tried to knock Gyan off a high ball coming down the middle. Gyan weathered the blow, kept his balance, then took off, outstripping the American defense and beating Howard just as Boateng had done. That the USA had gone down to Ghana in the knockouts in 2006 just added to the feeling of “been here, done that.” Defeated by a nation smaller than Oregon, not once but twice… kinda makes the American Soccer Powers-that-Be think. At least, we hope so.
Huzzah, USA, for getting the largest American soccer-viewing audience for a single match ever. Ghana, good on you for the win and for progressing — and thanks for proving me right in my WC prediction that of all the African competitors, the Black Stars were the ones to back.