The rematch with Ghana, for the third straight World Cup, was a dramatic entrance for the U.S. to the samba line that is forming in group play during the 2014 edition in Brazil. Most dramatic perhaps was Clint Dempsey becoming the first American to score in three straight World Cups, and doing so in startling fashion.
A pass out of the back, just after kickoff, sent by DeMarcus Beasley up the left side to Jermaine Jones, who in turn found Dempsey making a run towards the box. Four tight touches and turns by 'Deuce' split two Black Star defenders, and with a cool, back-post finish with the left foot, the U.S. was in front a mere 29 seconds into the match. It became the fifth-fastest goal in World Cup history and staked the Americans to the earliest lead imaginable.
The goal, in fact, may have come too soon, as Ghana was forced to abandon their previous game plan and chase the game for an equalizer. The aggressive change of play by the opposition nearly resulted in a second goal by Jozy Altidore, but his shot was handled by the 'keeper. Very soon after, in the 21st minute, Altidore took off on a promising run down the left flank, but after no contact with a defender, Altidore came up lame and had to leave the match with what is for now, being called a hamstring strain. I truly hope this photo is not of his last touch of this World Cup.
It was a defensive change at half that at first puzzled observers, as essentially rookie defender John Brooks came on for Matt Besler, who has been the other stalwart in the central defense. It was later learned Besler had a tight hamstring, which is not expected to be serious, but as fate would have it, the change would have dramatic impact on the match.
Ghana finally found their equalizer in the 82nd minute, but the lengthy pressure and energy spent in search of their goal caught them flat four minutes later. Barely seeing the ball since coming on the first half, Johannsson played a ball through to an overlapping Fabian Johnson coming from right back. The effort would win a corner, which was taken by Grahama Zusi, a 77th-minute sub on the flank for Alejandro Bedoya.
The perfectly placed corner would find Brooks outmatching his mark eight yards out from goal, and the young Hertha Berlin player rose, driving a forceful header into the ground, which then saw the ball bounce into the roof of the net. The 86th minute goal once again displayed the heart and effort through the final whistle that has become the U.S. team's trademark.
With four minutes, then five minutes of stoppage time to kill, the U.S. mustered the energy and held off Ghana's last attacks to salvage two points, but in the end, finally, the Americans heard the three blasts from the Swedish referee's whistle and had their hard-fought, so long in coming, win over their Black Stars nemesis.
Brooks was quickly met by elated teenager Julian Green, and the rest of his teammates. Then a moment later, veteran goalkeeper Tim Howard, who had made some clutch, decisive plays of his own, had a few quiet words for his young defender. The contrast of these two images tells me something about the make up of this team, and gives reason to believe, as in: 'We Believe, We Believe that We Will Win!
Am wrapping this report here. We flew all night to return to base in Sao Paulo. It is time to reacquaint myself with the bed upstairs. Many of my best images were not shared here, as I shot the match for ISI Photos, the official agency for U.S. Soccer. You may view the gallery of my photos, as well as ISI colleague, John Todd, at isiphotos.com. I am pretty proud of my shot of Tim's save, which was the ISI featured gallery cover shot.
All contents of this blog, written and photographic, are copyrighted 2014, all Rights Reserved, by Perry McIntyre - Atlanta, GA.
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