United States 1 Ghana 2 AET - Asamoah Gyan fires Ghana into quarter-finals
Asamoah Gyan(credit:
Wikipedia)
Ghana became only the third African nation to reach the quarter-finals of a World Cup with a hard-fought 2-1 extra-time win over the United States.
Kevin-Prince Boateng fired the Ghanaians into an early lead only for Landon Donovan to level from the spot to ultimately force an extra 30 minutes.
But Ghana would not be denied, and Asamoah Gyan netted his third goal of the tournament to set up a meeting with Uruguay.
Ghana made a dream start to the contest with a goal after just five minutes; Boateng gathering the ball in the US half and running at Jay DeMerit, who backed off, before switching the ball to his left foot and crashing a low shot past Tim Howard.
With the exception of a tame Clint Dempsey effort in the opening minutes, the Americans were struggling to get into the game, and Andre Ayew was running them ragged.
This time he pulled the ball back for Boateng but the Portsmouth man lifted his shot over the crossbar while under pressure from Michael Bradley.
The United States finally mustered another attack and Jozy Altidore dragged his shot wide after Dempsey’s initial effort was blocked.
At the other end Gyan powered in a free-kick that Howard had to parry, and the American then enjoyed a good spell of possession.
Kwadwo Asamoah rose highest to clear Donovan’s cross while under pressure from Bradley, and Richard Kingson then reacted quickly to pounce on Bradley’s cutback.
A mix-up at the back between DeMerit and Steve Cherundolo almost gifted an opening the Ghana, but Samuel Inkoom over-hit his ball in for Boateng.
Boateng then rifled a shot straight into Howard’s arms and US coach Bob Bradley decided it was time to changes things with just half an hour gone, sending on Maurice Edu for Ricardo Clark.
And it was four minutes later that Bradley’s men fashioned their best chance; Dempsey playing in Robbie Findley down the right and his shot was blocked by the foot of Kingson. The ball came back to Bradley but he again failed to beat the Ghana goalkeeper.
Another error from DeMerit almost cost his side at the other end, but Howard came to his defender’s rescue by saving Asamoah’s effort with his right boot.
Unhappy with his side’s first-half showing Bradley made his second change during the interval, hauling off Findley for Benny Feilhaber – who almost levelled within two minutes of the restart.
Following a nice series of passes Altidore slid the ball to Feilhaber but his flicked shot was blocked by Kingson with the goal at his mercy.
The US were looking much improved but Ghana still threatened on the break; Gyan firing wide with a shot from distance.
Ayew was left free on the right-hand side and he fed the ball through for Gyan, but DeMerit got back in time to block the Ghanaian’s effort on goal.
The US were continuing to create openings and Altidore squared for Feilhaber whose shot was blocked, but their equaliser did come on 62 minutes.
Demspey nutmegged Jonathan Mensah and burst into the box only to be bundled over by the young defender, and Donovan stepped up to calmly slot home from the penalty spot.
Altidore should have put the Americans ahead moments later when he sprung the offside trap, but his first touch was poor and gave goalkeeper Kingson enough time to make an unorthodox sliding tackle to clear the danger.
Bradley’s first-time shot failed to trouble Kingson and Jonathan then blocked Donovan’s shot as Ghana, who had been under the cosh since the equaliser, ensured there would be an extra 30 minutes.
But within three minutes of the first extra period they were given a new lease of life by Gyan who shrugged off Carlos Bocanegra to fire home and put Ghana back in front.
At the other end Dempsey’s knockdown was fired into a crowd by Feilhaber and went wide of the target, and Edu headed a tame effort wide as they failed to level before the change of ends.
Kingson punched away a dangerous Donovan free-kick and Lee Addy headed clear another set-piece as the Americans threatened early.
Cherundolo then launched another free-kick into the box which was met by Dempsey, and the ball ricocheted of a Ghanaian player towards goal but there was not enough pace to trouble Kingson.
Jonathan then launched himself in front of Donovan to prevent the American getting his shot on goal, and Herculez Gomez’s effort was deflected wide as they
And in the dying seconds, with US goalkeeper Howard being a nuisance in the opposition box for a corner, Kingson punched clear only as far as DeMerit, but the defender's shot looped over the bar and the Americans were heading home.
United States: Howard, Bocanegra, Bradley, Cherundolo, Dempsey, Donovan, Bornstein, Clark (Edu 31), DeMerit, Altidore (Gomez 91), Findley (Feilhaber 46).
Goal: Donovan pen 62
Ghana: Kingson, Sarpei (Addy 73), A Gyan, Pantsil, Mensah, Annan, Inkoom (Muntari 113), Jonathan, A Ayew, K Asamoah, K-P Boateng (Appiah 78).
Goals: K-P Boateng 5, A Gyan 93
Bookings: Bocanegra, Cherundolo, Clark (United States), Jonathan, A Ayew (Ghana)