USA USA USA!!!

There's a lot of excitement behind that title that I provided to you above especially after the embarrassing performance by Portugal. The United States Of America was ready to make a statement in the group of death to prove that they're not afraid of it. Moliere once said, "The greater the obstacle, the more glory in overcoming it." What were the obstacles for the US coming into the world cup, well for one they started out by playing a team that had eliminated them from the previous two world cups in the black stars of Ghana. Ghana was coming into the world cup as the youngest team at an average of 24.9 years old. The inexperience definitely showed in the first half as the United States hit Ghana with an uppercut right from the start. The US had a throw in and Jermaine Jones ends up with the ball after Beasley threw it in. Jones finds captain Clint Dempsey making a run and Dempsey slices and dices his way through the defense and he beats Ghana keeper Adam Kwarasey to record the sixth fastest goal scored ever in the history of the world cup (34 seconds). The US game plan would change in the first half after Jozy Altidore suffered a hamstring injury.

Courtesy of ESPN Sportsnation

The US struggled throughout most of the game failing to garner any real offense against a Ghana team that was determined to score a goal. Sulley Muntari and Asamoah Gyan were working very hard trying to frustrate the defense of the US, but Geoff Cameron and John Brooks, a player everyone thought had messed his chances of making the team held them off for the most part. Second half substitute Kevin Prince Boateng changed the makeup of the game, he brought a threatening presence to a Ghana side that was struggling and all of sudden things became scary. I thought to myself that I was going to have a heart attack watching the game as Ghana's chances became so much more threatening every time they gained or stole possession. The nightmare would come true as Gyan worked his magic with an amazing flick that saw André Ayew rocket it to the back of the net in the 83RD minute to even the score. The true makeup of the US team began to shine as they are a never give up never surrender team and they proved it. Graham Zusi lined up to take the corner and he delivers a perfect pass that finds the head of John Brooks for the go ahead goal in the 86TH minute. From that point on, all that mattered was that we held onto the ball and we didn't give Ghana a second chance at an equalizer. When the final whistle blew, I was like any American anywhere in the world, i was full of joy and hope.  Next up for the US is a Portuguese side that is going to be missing three key elements including the shameful Pepe.

Courtesy of ESPN Sportsnation