Yesterday was a dramatic day for US Soccer to say the least. I have to dedicate an entire post to the grit, the determination, and the belief that was shown in the United States' game against Ghana to open up their Group G competition. The US exercised their demons against Ghana through a first minute goal by captain Clint Dempsey. Of a clever little pass from Jermaine Jones, Dempsey showed his world class individual talent by driving into the box, cutting past a defender, and finishing with a precision strike to the far post.
As is normal with an early lead, the US fell into a defensive shell for the rest of the first half, and well into the second. Beckerman shut down the midfield while Cameron and Tim Howard stopped Ghana's offense for the majority of the game. In the 82nd minute, Ghana struck. Leveling the game, Ghana broke hearts all around the United States. In the American Outlaw bar of Santa Monica, I let felt deflated along with the hundreds of other Los Angeles US Soccer supporters around me. A tie would at least give the US a point, but in a "group of death," one point is not nearly enough to hang your hopes on.
Then, in the 86th minute, America erupted with a glorious roar. Thousands of people across the country threw up their hands. The hundreds of traveling supporters in the stadium in Natal lost their minds. We had done our part in believing. A young man, twenty-one years of age, did his part in doing. John Brooks, the half time sub who came on for Matt Besler, found the back of the net on a strong header off a corner kick from Graham Zusi. His first international goal for the US, and the ga
me winner to take 3 points from Ghana.
Jurgen Klinsmann had done it. The hard work by our 23 men in red, white, and blue paid off. Although they didn't look pretty and struggled to hold on to the ball, the United States are sitting in good position. In a post game interview the Man of the Match, Clint Dempsey, was proud but cautious, recognizing that his team needs to do better at building out of the back and keeping possession.
The glory of victory came with a cost, as Jozy Altidore looks to have picked up a serious hamstring coming off the field in the first half. Jozy was running down the left side of the pitch, and all of a sudden, he grabbed his left hamstring and pulled up lame, subsequently collapsing to the ground. He was stretchered off the pitch and subbed out for Aron Johannsson.
The United States will need to snatch at least 1 point from Portugal on Sunday. If they do, they will be set up very nicely for an escape from the group stage. Never more have the chants rung true, "We Believe That We Can Win."
