ADVERTISEMENT

A look back on all the matches between Ghana and USA

Ahead of the friendly match today, we take a look back on all three of the high-profile meetings between Ghana and the USA.

___6927847___https:______static.pulse.com.gh___webservice___escenic___binary___6927847___2017___7___1___11___20100626+MNTvGHA+Boateng+Shot_1

This year’s warm-up match for the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup is a friendly that’s been years in the making.

Bruce Arena’s side will welcome three-time World Cup foe Ghana to Pratt & Whitney Stadium on Saturday, July 1, in East Hartford, Conn.

Having met in each of the past three FIFA World Cups, the Black Stars eliminated the USA with matching 2-1 wins at the 2006 and 2010 editions, while the U.S. MNT got some revenge - appropriately enough - with a 2-1 victory in its opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Take a look back on all three of the high-profile meetings:

ADVERTISEMENT

GHANA 2, USA 1 - JUNE 22, 2006 - NÜRNBERG, GERMANY

While both teams having lost their tournament openers, each rebounded in their second matches – Ghana posting a 2-0 shutout against Czech Republic 2-0 and the U.S. gutting out a 1-1 draw against eventual World Cup champion Italy – making the group finale a high stakes affair.

With both teams having all to play for, it would be fair to say the U.S. MNT had some qualms with the officiating on the day. Ghana grabbed the game’s first goal when Haminu Draman dispossessed U.S. captain Claudio Reyna to open up a clear lane towards goal where he finished past Kasey Keller in the 22nd minute.

The U.S.A jumped back into the match when DaMarcus Beasley forced a turnover at midfield and sent a penetrating cross from the left for Clint Dempsey, who buried his first World Cup goal with a one-time finish past Richard Kingson.

The U.S. was on equal footing for just a few minutes, however, when referee Marcus Merk whistled center back Oguchi Onyewu for a controversial penalty kick as he won a header against Razak Pimpong at the top of the area. Stephen Appiah stepped up to convert the spot kick past Keller in first half stoppage time, and the U.S. was unable to find a second answer as Ghana secured their place in the Round of 16 with a 2-1 win.

ADVERTISEMENT

GHANA 2 - 1 USA – JUNE 16, 2010 - RUSTENBERG, SOUTH AFRICA

Only three days after Landon Donovan’s iconic stoppage time game-winner in the group finale against Algeria to win Group C, the U.S. paired up with Ghana again. The Black Stars had started the tournament strong with a 1-0 win against Serbia, drawn Australia 1-1 and fell 1-0 to Germany in advancing out of their group.

Despite the U.S. having the momentum, it was Ghana that once again struck first in the Round of 16 clash, as Kwadwo Asamoah forced a turnover in midfield that led to Kevin Prince Boateng’s opening strike in the sixth minute. While Ghana held the lead at halftime, the U.S. responded on the other side of the break when Clint Dempsey was chopped down in the box by Jonathan Mensah. Donovan stepped up and coolly banked his shot off the right post to equalize in the 62 minute.

The game headed to extra time where Ghana once again scored early through Asamoah Gyan’s 93rd minute strike. The best U.S. chances came in the dying minutes of the match, with Dempsey, Herculez Gomez and Jay DeMerit all seeing desperation attempts go begging as Ghana bested the U.S. once again.

USA 2 -1 GHANA 1 – JUNE 16, 2014 - NATAL, BRAZIL

ADVERTISEMENT

With Ghana seeing the U.S. out in the Round of 16 in South Africa, it was almost unbelievable that they’d been drawn against the U.S. for their opening group match four years later in Brazil. Having experienced the sting of being sent home from the World Cup by the Black Stars twice before, Clint Dempsey set the tone with the USA’s quickest goal in World Cup competition.

The U.S. dodged a few dangerous attempts from Asamoah Gyan in the second half, but Ghana finally broke through in the 82nd minute when his back heel unlocked enough space for Andre Ayew to beat Howard.

Not willing to let Ghana deliver another disappointing World Cup result, the U.S. earned a late, 86th minute corner kick thanks to the determined effort of Fabian Johnson. Graham Zusi’s driven take from the right narrowly eluded Geoff Cameron but caught Brooks perfectly, with the World Cup debutant nodding the ball down and past Adam Kwarasey to deliver the U.S. a memorable 2-1 victory.

JOIN OUR PULSE COMMUNITY!

Unblock notifications in browser settings.
ADVERTISEMENT

Eyewitness? Submit your stories now via social or:

Email: eyewitness@pulse.com.gh

ADVERTISEMENT