[Final score: Ghana 2, USA 1
Ghana advances to the quarterfinals, where they will face Uruguay. An African team continues on in this the first African World Cup.]
The one we’ve all been waiting for (well, for all of the last 3 days, since The Goal). Again, we won’t be doing min-by-min, play-by-play commentary (for that, we recommend the Guardian or NYT’s Goal blog).
We’re about 20m from kickoff. Starting lineups below, live entries coming up after the jump. We’re going to make a run around the corner to our local Brooklyn bodega for some refreshments, and to look in on the local soccer scene (Scopello, Mullanes, Der Schwarzer Kolner). We should be back on by kickoff..
Starting lineups:
Unitd States: 1-Tim Howard; 6-Steve Cherundolo, 15-Jay DeMerit, 12-Jonathan Bornstein, 3-Carlos Bocanegra; 10-Landon Donovan, 4-Michael Bradley, 13-Ricardo Clark, 8-Clint Dempsey; 17-Jozy Altidore, 20-Robbie Findley.
Ghana: 22-Richard Kingson; 4-John Pantsil, 8-Jonathan Mensah, 5-John Mensah, 2-Hans Sarpei; 6-Anthony Annan, 7-Samuel Inkoom, 23-Kevin-Prince Boateng, 13-Dede Ayew; 21-Kwadwo Asamoah, 3-Asamoah Gyan.
Referee: Viktor Kassai (Hungary)
[liveblog]19[/liveblog]
Intro from World Cup 2010: USA v Ghana – live | Football | guardian.co.uk:
It’s a tough one to call. I’ve missed two of Ghana’s matches, but am reliably informed they play “lovely football” but tend to lose their heads in the final third – a fact apparently borne out by the fact that their only two scores in the tournament to date have come from the penalty spot. The US, on the other hand, have been fairly impressive on fairly limited resources and in Landon Donovan have one of the players of the tournament thus far.
I expect the Americans to dominate tonight, with Ghana content to sit back, absorb whatever is thrown at them and attack on the break. The bookies make the USA 6-4 favourites, with Ghana 9-4 and the draw 11-5 (for normal time only). The USA are 4-6 favourites to qualify for the quarter-finals by hook or by crook, while Ghana are 6-5.
If I was you I’d have a bet on either team winning this on penalties, because there’s a late-night lock-in pint with my name on it waiting to make my acquaintance in my local and it would be remiss of Fate to pass up the opportunity to keep me away from it for as long as possible at the first available opportunity in this World Cup.
17 comments
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 2:34 PM
Looks like Ghana will be a bit more defensive to start. Don’t like Clark starting instead of edu but Bradley has made all the right call so far
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 2:37 PM
Clark giveaway led to that goal. WHY ARE WE SO WEAK EARLY IN THE MATCH? and now clark gets the yellow? Negates the good crosses Lamdon had started with
Suman
June 26, 2010 at 2:42 PM
Indeed..defense was weak on that goal by Prince-Boateng
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 2:51 PM
Have to agree with Harkes the combo of Bradley and Clark are getting too flat in the mf
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 2:58 PM
Looks like Bradley has had enough of Clark edu will be coming on soon
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 3:06 PM
US needs to keep htting those diagonal balls in the final third
Eggblogg
June 26, 2010 at 3:13 PM
The U.S. better regroup during halftime and really turn this game around. This is not the team that has been playing earlier in the tournament. They had better show up second half because so far they may as well not be on the field….
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 3:24 PM
I think Bradley’s loyalty– at times his strength as a coach– has been a weakness here, starting findley and Clark. Edu is clearly the best holding mf the us has right now the questionis what is the dahustment uptop
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 3:34 PM
Fielharber jas already provided a spark let’s see if they can get the equalizer quickly
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 3:49 PM
There we go great ball by Bennie and wonderful creativity by Clint and hurried by Landon!!!!
Eggblogg
June 26, 2010 at 3:59 PM
Here come the yanks we know & love! That penalty goal just added to the fire that was sparked upon starting the second half. It’s on!
Eggblogg
June 26, 2010 at 4:04 PM
Excellent work on & off the ball from Mike Bradley for a great opportunity at 76 minutes
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 4:33 PM
We can’t start overtime well either! Why don’t we start well this is on the players not Bradley
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 5:02 PM
Sadly this what happens when you constantly give up early goals it destroys you emotionally and physically
Simon
June 26, 2010 at 5:04 PM
Agreed Kingston is man of the match
amy
June 26, 2010 at 11:00 PM
kingson def man of match! he was awesome in goal, but the black stars D was tight and US couldn’t really penetrate…..yea they had chances, but ghana stuck it to em. US def wasn’t the same team as in previous game, and they decided to show up a lil too late! coaching decisions can have some effect, but all in all, the team is the ones out there on the field…….
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