The Black Stars lost their opening world cup group G game 2-1 to the United States as they failed to become third time lucky.
The USA took an early lead, but Ayew pulled Ghana level late in the second half, before the lead was restored by a powerful John Brooks header from a corner in the 86th minute.
This opening group game of the ‘underdogs’ meant a win was crucial as the subsequent games were guaranteed to be much tougher than this one.
And it was the USA who earned the bragging rights, beating the Black Stars for the first time in three attempts, collecting all three points and joining Germany joint top of the group.
Skipper Clint Dempsey gave the U.S an early lead, scoring within 43 seconds of kick-off with a side-footed effort past goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey.
The early goal, coming before the Stars had even had the chance to settle into the game, shook the entire team who seemed completely out of sorts within the first 15 minutes of the game.
The Black Stars however, gradually wrestled control of the game from their opponents, but a combination of lethargic front-line play and brilliant goalkeeping by Tim Howard kept the USA in the lead till half time.
Coach Kwesi Appiah maintained the bulk of his starting line-up from the Stars last friendly win against South Korea, with Christian Atsu stepping in instead of Kevin Prince Boateng and Daniel Opare slotting in at right back. This meant Kwadwo Asamoah remained at left back, with the Ayew brothers and Atsu supporting Gyan in attack.
The game had barely begun when Clint Dempsey gave the US team the lead. After winning the ball after some scrappy play, he nimbly skipped the challenge of John Boye, then slotted the ball coolly into the Ghanaian net with Kwarasey soundly beaten.
The Stars, who initially remained shell-shocked from the goal, gradually took over the game with some neat passing and build up play particularly down the right. Daniel Opare and Christian Atsu continued to whip in crosses, but most could not clear the first defender or were too high to do any good.
After several ineffectual long balls, an incisive through ball from Atsu in the 15th minute nearly found Gyan, but Tim Howard rushed off his line and snuffed out the danger.
The Stars continued to press for the equaliser, with Atsu and Gyan the most dangerous. Tim Howard continued to remain a stumbling block, saving a shot from Gyan destined for the bottom right corner in the 33rd minute.
Despite all the huffing and puffing from Ghana, the US remained resolute at the back, the fabled discipline instilled in them by new manager Klinsmann seeming to enable them weather storm after storm of Black Star attacks.
A glorious opportunity on the stroke of half time was mis-kicked by Jordan Ayew, ensuring the game went into the break with Ghana 1-0 down.
The second half resumed in the same fashion, Ghana continuing to knock on the door of the US goal, whilst the North Americans remained compact and resolute at the back.
The chances started coming thick and fast for the Stars, as they got closer and closer to the equaliser needed to salvage their world cup campaign.
A fierce Sulley Muntari shot from distance missed narrowly, whilst barely a minute later Gyan’s header from a Sulley Muntari cross was pushed away by the very tips of Howard’s fingers.
As the Stars became more desperate for the equaliser, coach Kwesi Appiah made some changes to try and turn the tide of the game.
Kevin Prince Boateng came on for Jordan Ayew in the 58th minute, whilst Michael Essien came in for Rabiu Mohammed.
Dempsey continued to remain the US’ danger man, as his shot on the turn in the 79th was a handful for Kwarasey in the Ghana goal, but the Stromgodset goalkeeper managed to save it.
The Ghanaian fans in the stadium sprung to life in the 82nd minute, as a clever run and pass from Kwadwo Asamoah found Gyan in a pocket of space. The Ghanaian skipper backheeled the ball into the path of Andre Ayew- who hit a shot into the net to send the Ghanaian fans into ecstasy.
But that happiness was short-lived, as Brooks rose unchallenged to head in a corner in the 86th minute, restoring the US’ lead and plunging Ghana into despair.
The Stars could not mount any challenge after that, with even 5 minutes of added time yielding little chances for an equaliser.
The loss means the team goes into their second group game against Germany requiring a win to keep their chances alive in this competition.
What do you think about Ghana’s performance and the coach’s selection—especially his decision to keep Kevin Prince Boateng on the bench with Essien while playing Jordan?
hmmmm what a heart break..Blackstar did so good but the issue is the goals oooo … Seriously this stupid u.s folks has surely improved on their soccer game. When my husband watched the match first he said was are they really a u.s team? This is so not the u.s from 2006 and 2010 when did they got this better. Never underestimate the USA just because we have always score them. Their defense was strong and couldn’t be broken into. We did well in the 2nd half but it was just not good enough. Better luck next time my beloved Country. God bless my boys. Don’t worry guys German will score them and put pepper in their ignorant eyes lol for us.
We are meeting Germany next #faints
We need God’s favor ooo eishhh.. Hmm the six germans in the U.s team were tough to me and a whole german team? wow i think blackstars should practice before saturday who know’s we will surprise the world this time.
You did your best so its OK.its all part of life .I still support you cos UV made me proud before,its ok if you let me down this time.Am still rallying behind you,Black Stars.As for U.S.,even with a miracle they won’t win the Cup!
Don’t be too sure was really surprised at their performance today. Will never say nothing until the winner comes out. Honestly black star is a gem but U.S surprised the world with their new improved skills. i Just wish German will kick their butt soon. When it comes to American sports they wouldn’t mind paying the best coach or hire lol some experience players as they did today lol to succeed. Everything here with practice becomes successful at the end. My beautiful black stars needs to practice more on their goals. It’s been our weakness for mad long and nothing is being done about that. All their goals were so easy and cheap without any sweat. Thats the success of practice and Good coach.
True, when their first easy goal came up thats when i figured this match will not be that easy compared to the previous ones. They used an easy tatics to score, this is what our team needs now to over come our opponents. Ghanaians thinks Americans are weak in this soccer business thats not true. They can be the best within 4 years. These people have the resources, money and talented players with a little push they will take home that world cup. My instinct has never failed me, the way i see it they can easily score germany and win this trophy. Basketball is their game but like i said no one puts in more efforts than Americans. Their coach is indeed the best and the team were too strong. Kevin and Essien came at the wrong time. Am sure even with them that first easy goal would have come on.
My husband said the same, says the way our men played today was totally off. When did these people became this good? well i think they should hire a better coach to train them. People are impressed with American new skills. The game was the toughest i’ve ever seen wow. Our coach appiah wth was he thinking? Was he bribed to allow our strongest players to be on seat until second half? wow i suspect him, i think we also needs a foreign coach.
USA needed the win more than Ghana and they got it simple. It seems our coach was still trying his players and yet to understand that the world cup has started. Dede Ayew was absent through out the match not because he not good but was played out of position. Dede is always efficient at the wings, why bring him to central midfield. We were just hitting the ball around without purpose because he decided to play two defensive midfielder (Rabiu and Muntari). Our midfield was therefore flat with no creativity. Many people advocated that he pairs either Rabiu or Sule with creative midfielder like Kwadwo Asamoah who can give those defend splitting passes but he went against it. Even in this match Kwadwo Asamoah started the build up that lead to our equalizer. If we had started him at the middle he would have done better. We all new our defends is not good so we were all calling for Essien to be used at the central defends so he can organize the defends but he again turned it down. Now he is blaming concentration for our defeat. The point is, we conceded the same way against Holland (early goal), what did he do about it. The essence of friendly matches before tournament is to identify the weakness in your team and correct them but it seems our coach has a different purpose for friendly matches. He was all over the place granting interviews when we won our friendly against S Korea but some of us told him that we won against a side which played better than us but for some questionable decisions by the referee in our favor and their naivety in front of the last third , we would have lost that match. It seems our world cup is over, because with this type of play, i am finding it difficult to believe that we can beat Germany and Portugal to qualify from our group. We are all advocating for a local coach but at least we need a good one not Kwasi Appiah, who have shown over the years that he is not good.