1. Bend don't break.
That's the mantra for teams put under intense pressure during matches. The U.S. tested the philosophy to its extreme, and eventually finally broke. Ghana battered the U.S. goal time and again. U.S. goalkeeper Tim Howard was sensational throughout, and saved the U.S. backline time and again. In the end, the U.S. couldn't manage to keep Ghana off the board but displayed tremendous resiliency.
The U.S. was tested in attack as well, as Jozy Altidore went down with an injury in the 21st minute of the match. Altidore was replaced by Aron Johannsson, who struggled as the lone striker but worked to press Ghana's defense throughout. The U.S. suffered another substitutionat halftime when Matt Besler couldn't continue and was replaced by 21-year-old John Anthony Brooks.
It's no small feat to survive losses to two key players in the middle of your roster, but credit to the depth to coach Jurgen Klinsmann and the workmanlike defense.
2. Survive through defense. Score through John Anthony Brooks?
There simply aren't enough words that can be written about the performance of Kyle Beckerman and Jermaine Jones. I'll sum both up in two: Heroic. Dreadlocks.
Beckerman and Jones are the two holding center midfielders in Klinsmann's 4-2-3-1 and without the work both put in, this game could have ended much differently. Beckerman helped settle Brooks, who was christened with fire in his first action since a March friendly against Ukraine. It was Brooks who sent the U.S. home with three points, rising to head home Graham Zusi's pinpoint cross.
The big centerback was shaky on defense, but all faults are forgiven when you score a truly heroic goal. The faults of Michael Bradley, however, will not be as quickly forgotten. Jones found himself covering non-stop for Michael Bradley - who looked a shadow of himself tonight.
3. Take the chances you're given.
The U.S was given an opportunity 30 seconds into the match. Clint Dempsey took it, and that's all the team needed for 80 minutes. The hope is always for more opportunities and an opportunity to relieve the pressure defensively.
However, the U.S. was able to lean on that one strike for 80 minutes. When the team finally fell, it found a way to prevail on the one aspect of the game which will make or break every team's World Cup.
Set pieces come down to pure will, simple as that. Brooks took his opportunity and seemingly willed the ball into the back of the net.
That was enough for this match against Ghana, it's highly unlikely the U.S. will be able to withstand the same pressure from the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo and Portugal in six days time.
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Entities 0 Name: U.S. Count: 10 1 Name: Ghana Count: 4 2 Name: Brooks Count: 3 3 Name: John Anthony Brooks Count: 2 4 Name: Beckerman Count: 2 5 Name: Michael Bradley Count: 2 6 Name: Ukraine Count: 1 7 Name: Matt Besler Count: 1 8 Name: Clint Dempsey Count: 1 9 Name: Kyle Beckerman Count: 1 10 Name: Cristiano Ronaldo Count: 1 11 Name: U.S Count: 1 12 Name: Graham Zusi Count: 1 13 Name: Jones Count: 1 14 Name: Tim Howard Count: 1 15 Name: Altidore Count: 1 16 Name: Jozy Altidore Count: 1 17 Name: Jurgen Klinsmann Count: 1 18 Name: Portugal Count: 1 19 Name: Klinsmann Count: 1 20 Name: Jermaine Jones Count: 1 21 Name: Aron Johannsson Count: 1 Related 0 Url: http://ift.tt/1paQwgp Title: 2014 FIFA World Cup: USA vs. Ghana preview Description: USA vs. Ghana (Group G) | Kickoff: 6/16, 6 p.m. ET | Stadium: Pernambuco, Recife More World Cup: Scoreboard | Schedule | Group Standings | U.S. Team news Match Preview: This game is about exorcising demons for the US.
