Gyan seals progress in extra-time
Asamoah Gyan kept the African flag flying at the World Cup with a spectacular left-foot strike in extra-time to take Ghana through to their first quarter-final. It was the second time in successive World Cups that Ghana had defeated the United States, having effectively dumped them out of the tournament four years ago by beating them in the final group game.
Gyan's goal, after 93 minutes, was worthy of winning any game after he outmuscled USA captain Carlos Bocanegra to blast his shot past goalkeeper Tim Howard.
It settled a contest that was level at full time after Landon Donovan's second-half penalty cancelled out a fifth-minute strike from Kevin-Prince Boateng.
It was just reward for Ghana's talent and power in a dramatic encounter at the Royal Bafokeng stadium and the sole surviving African nation must now fancy their chances of creating an even bigger ripple at this tournament, with Uruguay awaiting them in the last-eight.
Former president Bill Clinton had turned up to support the USA and was sitting for a time next to Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, who might well have made his plans expecting England to have topped Group C and been playing down the road from their training headquarters.
The USA had stymied those plans by finishing first but it was clear they were going to be stretched by Ghana's pace.
The Black Stars could hardly have made a more stunning start. Portsmouth's Boateng picked up the ball just inside his own half, slalomed past three defenders and unleashed a left-foot shot which flew past Howard.
It was Ghana's first goal at this World Cup from open play, having beaten Serbia and drawn with Australia in the group phase courtesy of two penalties. But Boateng's strike demonstrated their firepower and they might have added to their lead with Gyan, who plays for French club Rennes, a constant threat.
So superior were Ghana in that first period that after 31 minutes a concerned USA coach Bob Bradley substituted midfielder Ricardo Clark, who had received an early booking, and brought on Maurice Edu.
The Americans picked up the tempo immediately and could have equalised after 35 minutes when Robbie Findley raced clear only to see his right-foot shot smartly saved by goalkeeper Richard Kingson.
The USA came out after half-time, however, with a more determined, more attacking attitude and the excellent Kingson was straight into the action, forced to pull off a splendid save from Benny Feilhaber.
With Fulham's Clint Dempsey at the heart of their good work the Americans surged forward and they received their reward after 62 minutes. Dempsey was the architect, weaving his way through the Ghana defence into the penalty area where he drew the challenge and was brought down by defender Jonathan Mensah.
Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai pointed to the spot and Los Angeles Galaxy's Donovan stepped up to slide home his third goal in four matches.
The USA dream appeared back on, especially as they are a team who make a habit of stirring comebacks. They had their chances. Jozy Altidore might have done better when clear after 80 minutes but he spooned his effort wide under pressure from a defender.
So to a frantic extra-time and Gyan's stunning strike which sent the USA home and Ghana into ecstasy.
It settled a contest that was level at full time after Landon Donovan's second-half penalty cancelled out a fifth-minute strike from Kevin-Prince Boateng.
It was just reward for Ghana's talent and power in a dramatic encounter at the Royal Bafokeng stadium and the sole surviving African nation must now fancy their chances of creating an even bigger ripple at this tournament, with Uruguay awaiting them in the last-eight.
Former president Bill Clinton had turned up to support the USA and was sitting for a time next to Rolling Stone Mick Jagger, who might well have made his plans expecting England to have topped Group C and been playing down the road from their training headquarters.
The USA had stymied those plans by finishing first but it was clear they were going to be stretched by Ghana's pace.
The Black Stars could hardly have made a more stunning start. Portsmouth's Boateng picked up the ball just inside his own half, slalomed past three defenders and unleashed a left-foot shot which flew past Howard.
It was Ghana's first goal at this World Cup from open play, having beaten Serbia and drawn with Australia in the group phase courtesy of two penalties. But Boateng's strike demonstrated their firepower and they might have added to their lead with Gyan, who plays for French club Rennes, a constant threat.
So superior were Ghana in that first period that after 31 minutes a concerned USA coach Bob Bradley substituted midfielder Ricardo Clark, who had received an early booking, and brought on Maurice Edu.
The Americans picked up the tempo immediately and could have equalised after 35 minutes when Robbie Findley raced clear only to see his right-foot shot smartly saved by goalkeeper Richard Kingson.
The USA came out after half-time, however, with a more determined, more attacking attitude and the excellent Kingson was straight into the action, forced to pull off a splendid save from Benny Feilhaber.
With Fulham's Clint Dempsey at the heart of their good work the Americans surged forward and they received their reward after 62 minutes. Dempsey was the architect, weaving his way through the Ghana defence into the penalty area where he drew the challenge and was brought down by defender Jonathan Mensah.
Hungarian referee Viktor Kassai pointed to the spot and Los Angeles Galaxy's Donovan stepped up to slide home his third goal in four matches.
The USA dream appeared back on, especially as they are a team who make a habit of stirring comebacks. They had their chances. Jozy Altidore might have done better when clear after 80 minutes but he spooned his effort wide under pressure from a defender.
So to a frantic extra-time and Gyan's stunning strike which sent the USA home and Ghana into ecstasy.
MATCH SUMMARY
Man of the Match: Richard Kingson - Although Asamoah Gyan will get the headlines for his winning goal, it was the form of goalkeeper Kingson that allowed Ghana to get to extra-time in the first place. He made three great saves in regulation time, the pick of which was to deny Benny Feilhaber in a one-on-one.
USA verdict: Yet another slow start for the USA meant they were up against it from the start. Ghana swarmed all over their midfield and defence and coach Bob Bradley was forced to make tactical change after just 30 minutes - replacing holding-midfielder Ricardo Clark with Maurice Edu. The change allowed the USA to get back into the game and, in the second-half, got the goal that their improvement deserved. But as the match restarted for extra-time the trademark early lapse of concentration returned as Ghana scored and this time they could not recover.
Ghana verdict: The Black Stars began in rampant fashion - scoring after just five minutes and then carving through the USA midfield with ease for the next 30 minutes. However, Ghana allowed the USA a foothold in the game before the break and in the second-half could not regain their dominance as they dropped deeper and deeper and invited pressure. Milovan Rajevac's side started extra-time in quick-fire fashion once again and took the lead just two minutes after the restart. Steven Appiah's calm assurance and rediscovered self belief saw Ghana through to the end.
Could do better: Ricardo Clark - He was selected ahead of Jose Torres and Maurice Edu in central midfield but his first contribution was the error that lead to Ghana's opening goal. He lasted only 30 minutes as the game passed him by before being hauled off. The poor lad may never recover.
Stat attack: The USA led for only 206 seconds at the 2010 World Cup.
Man of the Match: Richard Kingson - Although Asamoah Gyan will get the headlines for his winning goal, it was the form of goalkeeper Kingson that allowed Ghana to get to extra-time in the first place. He made three great saves in regulation time, the pick of which was to deny Benny Feilhaber in a one-on-one.
USA verdict: Yet another slow start for the USA meant they were up against it from the start. Ghana swarmed all over their midfield and defence and coach Bob Bradley was forced to make tactical change after just 30 minutes - replacing holding-midfielder Ricardo Clark with Maurice Edu. The change allowed the USA to get back into the game and, in the second-half, got the goal that their improvement deserved. But as the match restarted for extra-time the trademark early lapse of concentration returned as Ghana scored and this time they could not recover.
Ghana verdict: The Black Stars began in rampant fashion - scoring after just five minutes and then carving through the USA midfield with ease for the next 30 minutes. However, Ghana allowed the USA a foothold in the game before the break and in the second-half could not regain their dominance as they dropped deeper and deeper and invited pressure. Milovan Rajevac's side started extra-time in quick-fire fashion once again and took the lead just two minutes after the restart. Steven Appiah's calm assurance and rediscovered self belief saw Ghana through to the end.
Could do better: Ricardo Clark - He was selected ahead of Jose Torres and Maurice Edu in central midfield but his first contribution was the error that lead to Ghana's opening goal. He lasted only 30 minutes as the game passed him by before being hauled off. The poor lad may never recover.
Stat attack: The USA led for only 206 seconds at the 2010 World Cup.
