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| stewed & Keefed |
Ghana 2-1 USA
Ghana clinched a place in the last 16 of the World Cup by ending the hopes of the United States with a win over the Americans in Nuremberg.
Haminu Dramani gave Ghana, who lost their group opener to Italy, the lead after he robbed Claudio Reyna but Clint Dempsey's first-time shot made it 1-1.
Stephen Appiah restored Ghana's lead from a controversial penalty - awarded against USA defender Oguchi Onyewu.
Brian McBride sent a diving header against the post for the USA.
Referee Markus Merk stamped his early mark on the game, booking Eddie Lewis and Michael Essien inside the first six minutes.
With plenty at stake both sides were prepared for a physical battle and Lewis needed treatment for an eyebrow cut, which was caused by John Mensah's stray elbow.
Dramani then raised Ghana's hopes of a place in the knockout stages by firing them ahead.
Dramani's shuddering challenge caught Reyna in possession and the Ghana star made ground before curling his shot around keeper Kasey Keller's dive.
Essien's role in the battle for midfield supremacy was pivotal to Ghana's hopes and he won the ball to release the pacy Razak Pimpong, who pulled his shot wide.
The USA's ponderous build-up play allowed Ghana time to get bodies behind the ball but when they took a more direct route it proved to be effective, with McBride rising to flick the ball on for Landon Donovan, who sliced his shot wide.
The Americans suffered a blow when playmaker Reyna limped off but they made light of if when they levelled just before half-time.
Midfielder Clint Dempsey knows the USA are heading home
DaMarcus Beasley intercepted Derek Boateng's pass and curled a delicious cross into the path of Dempsey, who crashed home a first-time shot.
But referee Merk added one more twist to the first half, with a controversial penalty award.
He penalised Onyewu, who appeared to win a clean header as Pimpong collapsed dramatically, and then allowed Appiah to dispatch the spot-kick.
Donovan swung in a dangerous free-kick as the USA piled on the pressure at the start of the second half but Ghana showed their threat on the break and Keller had to claw away a powerful shot from Matthew Amoah.
For all their possession, the Americans showed little guile and wit to break down Ghana in a game that continued to be dominated by referee Merk's whistle.
The USA's luck was out as McBride dived full-length to head Lewis' cross against the post before Onyewu headed inches over the bar from a corner.
The American fans may well believe that they were victims of some debatable refereeing decisions and they were angry when Mensah was only shown a yellow card for a dreadful, cynical foul on substitute Bobby Convey.
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Ghana: Kingston, Mensah, Pantsil, Shilla, Mohamed, Appiah, Essien, Dramani (Tachie-Mensah 80), Boateng (Otto Addo 45), Amoah (Eric Addo 59), Pimpong.
Subs Not Used: Adjei, Ahmed, Kuffour, Owu, Pappoe, Quaye, Sarpei.
Booked: Essien, Shilla, Mensah, Appiah.
Goals: Dramani 22, Appiah 45 pen.
USA: Keller, Onyewu, Conrad, Cherundolo (Johnson 60), Bocanegra, Dempsey, Reyna (Olsen 40), Lewis (Convey 74), Beasley, Donovan, McBride.
Subs Not Used: Albright, Berhalter, Ching, Hahnemann, Howard, O'Brien, Wolff.
Booked: Lewis.
Goals: Dempsey 43.
Att: 41,000
Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)
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| VoodooChileInWOnderl |
Bye USA 
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| Madafaka |
Football never was the strongest USA sport... Bye USA, better luck next time!
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| Angiegirl |
quote:
gustavobala wrote:
in football we cannot say: "we will win (before the game start)"
Sure we can.
I say "we will lose" every day. |
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| Madafaka |
Brazil will win easily tonight! |
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| VoodooChileInWOnderl |
quote:
Madafaka wrote:
Brazil will win easily tonight!
Not at all, now is Japan 1 - 0 Brazil !!!! |
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| jtorquetti |
quote:
VoodooChileInWOnderl wrote:
Not at all, now is Japan 1 - 0 Brazil !!!!
1 - 1
I love Zico, but Japan is so weak!
Go Brasil !!!!! |
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| Madafaka |
1-1 Half time! |
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| Madafaka |
Same Croatia - Australia! |
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