The 2010 FIFA World Cup, held in South Africa, was a tournament filled with memorable moments and dramatic matches. One such encounter was the Group C clash between the United States and Ghana, a game that would ultimately determine the fate of both teams in the competition. Group C consisted of national association football teams from England, the United States, Algeria and Slovenia.
Only England and the United States had previously met at a World Cup in 1950, when the United States defeated England 1-0. England were considered favourites to win Group C.
The United States and England progressed to the round of 16 undefeated. The United States won the group, winning one match and drawing two. England had an identical record and goal difference but the United States finished top having scored more goals than England.
Let's delve into the details of this captivating match and the events that unfolded during the tournament.
Group C Overview
Group C of the 2010 FIFA World Cup began on 12 June and ended on 23 June 2010. The group consisted of national association football teams from England, the United States, Algeria and Slovenia.
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England were considered favourites to win Group C. In a pre-tournament preview, The Guardian's Kevin McCarra analysed England's chances ahead of the tournament: "If Wayne Rooney stayed fit, if Steven Gerrard got his form back and if the centre-backs were in rude health, England would present a severe problem to most. Capello needs to refresh a dynamism that has waned. Semi-finalists."
The Guardian previewed the US' chances: "The USA have been quietly optimistic about their chances of making a splash in South Africa ever since reaching the Confederations Cup final last year, where they lost to Brazil.
Knockout Stage: United States vs. Ghana
Life on the World Cup edge came to an exhausting and crushing end against a familiar foe Saturday night, when Ghana - led by Asamoah Gyan's goal 3 minutes into overtime - posted a 2-1 victory that ended a thrilling yet futile tournament for the United States in the second round just when it seemed the Americans had a relatively easy path to the semifinals.
After Donovan tied the score with his American record 45th international goal, Jozy Altidore had the best opportunity. But he went wide in the 81st minute. No American forward has scored in the World Cup since Brian McBride in 2002."Let's face it, you count on your forwards," Bradley said.
With Howard pushed up, DeMerit's desperation long shot in the final minutes went over the crossbar. Then Dempsey sent a header wide.
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At the final whistle, Howard consoled Bocanegra and Edu collapsed to the ground. Donovan exchanged jerseys with a Ghana player and walked off the field, put on a coat, sat on the bench and hung his head.
"If we're a little less naive tonight, we would have advanced," said Donovan. "I said all along this was a young team and a relatively inexperienced team at this level."
They thrilled the large number of Americans who were the largest group of overseas ticket buyers, but failed to do as well as the 2002 team, which reached the quarterfinals.
"We always understand the responsibility we have as a national team to show how far the game has come in the United States, to fight for respect," Bradley said. "We certainly felt we moved things along with our performance in the Confederations Cup and as we went through the first round we felt that we were continuing to go in that direction."
Because a growing fan base watched on television in record numbers, the loss was even more painful for a team still struggling for recognition both in the soccer world and among sports fans in America.
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"Soccer can be a cruel game," Donovan said.
"We felt like we had a great opportunity," goalkeeper Tim Howard said. "We just gave ourselves too much of a mountain to climb. We just couldn't come back."
Kevin-Prince Boateng put Ghana ahead when he stripped the ball from Ricardo Clark in the fifth minute and beat Howard from 16 yards.
Gyan let the ball bounce, took a touch with his chest, and with Jay DeMerit vainly trying to catch up, scored over goalkeeper Tim Howard with a left-footed shot from 16 yards.
"I had my angles right there," Howard said. "He absolutely crushed it."
The goal set off horn-honking celebrations in Ghana, a West African country nearly 3,000 miles away.
"We've made everybody proud," Gyan said. "Not Ghana alone, but all of Africa."
There was nothing to equal Donovan's injury-time goal that provided a 1-0 victory over Algeria and moved the Americans into the second round.
No nail-biting comeback this time. soccer history was knocked out in a game the Americans were convinced they should have won. relied on late rallies once too often.
came from behind to draw England 1-1 and Slovenia 2-2 in the first round, the Americans looked ragged this time. They go home pondering a World Cup that could have been so much more.
Grim-faced American players filed by one by one on their way out of Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
USA 1 - 2 Ghana | Extended highlights | World Cup 2010
Here's a summary of the match:
| Event | Minute | Team | Goal Scorer |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ghana Goal | 5' | Ghana | Kevin-Prince Boateng |
| USA Goal | 62' | USA | Landon Donovan (Penalty) |
| Ghana Goal | 93' | Ghana | Asamoah Gyan |
The United States held on for the final few minutes for a 1-0 victory.
Throughout the remainder of the game, the United States had a number of good chances against a solid Algerian defence that allowed just one goal from two games; striker Jozy Altidore volleyed wide of an open net, while Clint Dempsey had a goal disallowed for a controversial offside call and later hit the crossbar on a shot and missed an empty net on the rebound.
After 90 minutes of a scoreless affair, the United States were at risk of elimination: with England leading Slovenia 1-0, a 0-0 draw for the United States would have caused them to finish third in Group C on three points (behind England on five and Slovenia on four). However, in stoppage time, American goalkeeper Tim Howard quickly threw an outlet pass to Landon Donovan, who moved the ball up the pitch and passed the ball just outside the box to Altidore, who then crossed the ball to an open Dempsey in the middle of the box.
With the Algerian goalkeeper closing in, Dempsey shot quickly and was blocked; however, Donovan followed the shot and put the rebound into the net for an easy goal.
Early in the game, the United States nearly allowed another early goal as an Algerian shot hit the crossbar.
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