WC 2014 Match 14 USA v Ghana

[Libertine]

The Yanks to pull off a slight shock and win this one 2-1.

Good call...

[Ouroboros]

Yet another dramatic game.

[seahawk10]

Vital 3 points. Entertaining game. Klinsmann's subs spot on. Brooks scores the goal that wins it on a corner taken by Zusi. The US didn't play particularly well but managed to get the win anyhoo. But it looks like we've lost Altidore with Dempsey, Bedoya, Besler all picking up knocks of some sort. This is going to test our squad depth but for now I am going to savor this victory. I thought the players who stood out for me the most were Beckerman and Jones. They did yeoman's jobs in the midfield...

Jones was a fookin rock 9/10

[Libertine]

Yep, Jones seemed to be everywhere at all times. Plus he kept his cool and didn't get carded as it seems he often does. Actually he and Muntari should have both been carded for the scrap they had but the ref generously let them both off with verbal warnings. And I forgot to mention Bedoya. He played very well before he was subbed out. Hope that knock he picked up won't keep him out of our next game.

Kudos to Klinnsman also. After the US gave up the equalizer he sends out Zusi, a more offensively minded player known for his crosses and dead ball deliveries, for Bedoya and went for the win rather than settling for the point. If the US lost the game he'd be getting killed in the press right now. Instead Brooks and Zusi made him look like a genius...

[seahawk10]

I absolutely loved Brooks' celebration:

[seahawk10]

Sporting KC fans, slo-mo eruption after the goal:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LXOv-vQytmo

[Libertine]

Genuinely happy for the kid. It is the dream of every kid playing football to play in a World Cup and in his first game he only goes and scores the winner. His reaction was priceless. Great pic! Plus this appearance cap-tied him to the US. May he have a long illustrious career for the stars and stripes.

[Big Foot]

Only caught the 1st half, Ghana looked threatening but wasteful - their players seemed to shit themselves in the final third

Nasty blow to the nose for Dempsey, thought he'd broken it at the time

[Ouroboros]

I absolutely loved Brooks' celebration:

+1

On of the moments of the WC so far.

[Royalclapper]

Thoroughly entertaining full bloodied game, the US were like a team of tigers. So frantic was the pace of the game Bradley rarely had chance to be more measured with his passing range. Beckerman and Jones were great while Geoff Cameron was MOTM for me.

Ghana lacked refinement when they found themselves in decent positions and their shooting was a bit wayward.

[stealthpapes]

I don't think I've ever seen Bradley run.

EDIT

Klinsmann enjoys himself





Ghana fans

[Ark Royal]

Brooks's goal celebration definitely the World Cup moment so far. The sheer joy followed by the realization of scoring a winning goal in a vital World Cup game on his first full appearance was really something to see.

Don't know about fellow Statesiders, but the pub I was in was absolutely packed to the rafters and the roof came off when the winner went in. Brilliant.

[southbank1871]

An American friend of mine who lives in NYC and has never shown any interest in soccer before, has been texting me all world cup and reckons that loads of people in NYC were having WC parties for the game lat night. I wonder whether that game last night and the way the US won it might really kick-start the game over there.

[Libertine]

A couple different views of it...





Textbook headed goal.

[Will95]

Decent game this one, was really hoping the US would be smashed but that celebration showed a lot, wonderful moment. Ghana unlucky though.

[Big Foot]

Missed the 2 late goals on Monday night so just watched back - Brooks' look of disbelief gave me goosebumps

[Millsy]

USA need to be doing *MUCH* better than they are.

A massive population, HUGE finances, living a life of luxury, no illegal sanctions against them, no real poverty, noone invading their country. Millions of footy mad hispanics in the country. The funds to bring in foreign mercenary players, which has formed the bulk of previous squads.

No excuse. They should be winning the world cup. One day they'll be a force, mark my words. In the meantime poor countries with sanctions, invasions, poverty, no grass, where slum children play with potatoes in bare feet will continue to prove that passion>>>>>>money.

[seahawk10]

USA need to be doing *MUCH* better than they are.

A massive population, HUGE finances, living a life of luxury, no illegal sanctions against them, no real poverty, noone invading their country. Millions of footy mad hispanics in the country. The funds to bring in foreign mercenary players, which has formed the bulk of previous squads.

No excuse. They should be winning the world cup. One day they'll be a force, mark my words. In the meantime poor countries with sanctions, invasions, poverty, no grass, where slum children play with potatoes in bare feet will continue to prove that passion>>>>>>money.

The passion is coming, tweet volume before and after the go-ahead goal vs. Ghana:
https://vine.co/v/MIILLwxJzTe

The US - Ghana game had nearly as many viewers (16 mill vs. 18 mill) as an NBA finals match.

[Ian Royal]

USA need to be doing *MUCH* better than they are.

A massive population, HUGE finances, living a life of luxury, no illegal sanctions against them, no real poverty, noone invading their country. Millions of footy mad hispanics in the country. The funds to bring in foreign mercenary players, which has formed the bulk of previous squads.

No excuse. They should be winning the world cup. One day they'll be a force, mark my words. In the meantime poor countries with sanctions, invasions, poverty, no grass, where slum children play with potatoes in bare feet will continue to prove that passion>>>>>>money.

Having a high standard of living reduces the incentives for the masses to pursue football as a way of breaking out of poverty. And you can't place enough emphasis on the fact that the US is obsessed with the shit sports it invented, meaning football is a girls game few men take seriously.

It's not passion that wins things for those 'slum children' it's hours upon hours of practice and determination driven by the will to improve their lot that wins them.

[stealthpapes]

There's an probably an optimum level of wealth here. Too poor and the diet, facilities just aren't good enough. Too rich and you play rugby.