World Cup: USA gain revenge

Clint Dempsey gave USA the lead in the first minute with an excellent goal.

He burst away from John Boye and slammed a shot beyond Adam Kwarasey to leave Ghana stunned.

Dempey’s strike was the fifth fastest goal in World Cup finals history.

Former Hull City striker Jozy Altidore might have doubled the USA’s advantage just past the quarter-of-an-hour mark, but he wanted too much time to get off his shot from eight yards out and it was blocked.

Disappointment turned to abject misery within five minutes when Altidore pulled up clutching his hamstring and was carried off on a stretcher.

Goalscorer Dempsey then needed treatment for a nosebleed when he was caught, accidentally, in the face by John Boye’s boot during an aerial challenge.

Ghana penned USA back at the start of the second half, but Christian Atsu wasted an opportunity he had created for himself, firing off target.

Asamoah Gyan then twice got on the end of crosses, heading wide with his first effort and drawing a save from Tim Howard with the next.

The USA’s lead was starting to look precarious with the introduction of Kevin Prince-Boateng giving Ghana added impetus.

A rare USA attack produced a corner and the first moment of second-half apprehension for Ghana when their goalkeeper Kwarasey flapped at Alejandro Bedoya’s flag-kick, but Jurgen Klinsmann’s side did not have a man at the far post to take advantage.

With just over 10 minutes to go, Dempsey tried his luck from the edge of the box, but his left-footed effort was comfortably saved.

Ironically, just as the USA were enjoying their best spell of the second period Ghana equalised.

The 81st-minute leveller was beautifully created by Gyan’s backheel and cunningly finished with the outside of Andre Ayew’s left boot.

The USA seemed to be on the ropes, but they cleared their heads, won a corner through Fabian Johnson’s tenacity and former Germany Under-20 international John Brooks headed them back in front with his first goal in USA colours.