USA Beats Ghana 2-1

USA Beats Ghana 2-1 | World Cup

[ Check out photos from the Group G matchup between the United States & Ghana ]

Substitute John Brooks headed an 86th-minute winner as the United States beat Ghana 2-1 in a World Cup Group G clash on Monday (June 16) , just as the Africans thought they had snatched a draw. U.S. captain Clint Dempsey scored after 32 seconds, the fifth-fastest goal in World Cup history, and that began to look enough as Ghana repeatedly failed to turn their dominant possession into clear chances

Ghana finally equalized after 82 minutes, though, when a clever flick by Asamoah Gyan set up Andre Ayew for a neat finish, only for Brooks to thump home the winner four minutes later.

Ghana knocked the U.S. out in the round of 16 four years ago and effectively did so in 2006 when they beat them in their final group game, but now look long shots to progress again from a group containing Germany and Portugal, who met earlier on Monday with the Germans winning 4-0.

The victory came at a cost, though, with striker Jozy Altidore unlikely to play any further part in the tournament after limping off with a left hamstring injury.

USA Beats Ghana 2-1 | World Cup
Jozy Altidore lies injured (Photo: Michael Steele/Getty Images for Sony)

Dempsey finished the match with a bloodied and swollen nose after taking a whack in the face from Boye's boot, while Matt Besler was withdrawn at halftime with what looked like another hamstring problem. It was Besler's departure that allowed Brooks to win his fifth cap, however, and Klinsmann has been at enough World Cups to know that dealing with injuries is part of the job.

Team USA plays Portugal on Sunday (June 22) at the Amazonia arena in Manaus while Ghana plays Germany on Saturday (June 21) at the Castelao arena in Fortaleza

"USA Beats Ghana 2-1 "

USA Beats Ghana 2-1

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