World Cup: Ghana vs USA – half
By Michael Vass | June 26, 2010
What is it with the US? They seem incapable of playing a match without giving up an early goal within the first 15 minutes of the match.
Against Ghana, 4:57 into the match, a wide open left side of the field was just begging for Ghana to make an attempt. When they did via #23 Kevin-Prince Boateng, USA goalie Tim Howard seemed almost stuck in mollasses to stop the ball. It was a pitiful situation that USA let develop from the start of the match.
Ghana 1 – USA 0
But if there was a thought that this was the spark to lift the USA out of its malaise, it didn’t take in the first half. Possession of the ball in the first 20 minutes was 33% USA, which explains the early score. The left side of the defense for the USA, with #15 Jay DeMerit who was virtually without a touch in the first half, and #6 Steve Cherundolo was woefully inept. Ghana exploited this weakness every time they made a run at the goal, and the hole on that side was wide enough to fly a Boeing 747 through.
It’s not like you can’t blame the referee if you wanted to. The foul on Landon Donovan at 14:50 was blatant, obvious, and uncalled. But that is not enough to excuse the poor play of the USA. Like the horrendously bad choice of #6 Cherdundulo at 16:57 against #6 Anthony Annan outside the penalty box. There was no benefit to the USA and brought the specter of a RED card and 10 men for the USA that much closer.
Adding to the problems for the USA, #4 Michael Bradley and #13 Ricardo Clark playing as if conjoined twins. It was so bad that Clark had to be substituted for #19 Maurice Edu. There are problems all over the field though. Like what is so wrong with #17 Jozy Altidore that he is virtually standing still throughout the half.
overall, there were 8 shots, 4 on goal, and 1 in the net for Ghana vs the USA 7 – 3 – 0. We need thouse numbers to change, along with possession or the second half will be the last of the USA in the 2010 World Cup.
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