The knockout round has arrived and the game between the United States and Ghana on Saturday was a hugely expected one at the usa sportsbook.
A suddenly pretty interested country that usually does not pay much attention to soccer was backing the United States team. The United States obtained a late goal from Landon Donovan to defeat Algeria in their previous competition in an impressive performance that had many Americans glowing with pride. Ghana also established an advancement from Group D last week. The US was a minor fave in World Cup sports betting in this match, and several supporters thought they would go all the way.
When Landon Donovan scored in injury time, the United States was just 3 minutes away from not moving on from Group C. In fact, videos of the reactions of United States buffs to Donovan’s last-minute goal circulated the Internet, at some point reaching Donovan himself and bringing him to tears. Not only did the US defeat Algeria also they won Group C and avoided Germany in the round of 16 due to the 1-0 win that gave the United States the top spot in Group C. Ghana appeared as if a much easier competition vs the U.S., at least on paper. England concluded 2nd in Group C and they proceeded on to play Germany in the knockout round. They were removed at that point when Germany defeated the team in an embarrassing 4-1 final score.
The USa had played fairly well in the World Cup at that point with a win and two draws. They’ve been having difficulties to score goals though and they’ve also had some poor luck. They easily could have had at least 3 goals in the previous game against Slovenia and 2 or three against Algeria. Donovan has been solid in the World Cup and Clint Dempsey has created a lot of chances. Even Jozy Altidore and Michael Bradley have performed well. The US have a excellent goalie in Tim Howard but defensively the US was giving up a few chances.
Ghana was coming off a 1-0 loss to Germany but Ghana still moved on because Australia upset Serbia in the other game. Ghana and Australia finished tied on points but Ghana won the goal differential. Ghana had the support of the devotees on Saturday since Ghana is the only African team to make the knockout round. They were definitely reveling in being the last remaining African team at the 2010 World Cup.
Ghana has some ability but they’ve got truly had trouble to score goals. They have just 2 in their 3 World Cup matches. Their goalie, Richard Kingson bailed them out time and time again versus Germany.
Ghana was basically a squad that the U.S. might – and likely should – have been able to beat on a normal basis. It is not that Ghana is a terrible squad. It is that the United States is basically better. So it was a little of a surprise, and likely an emotional one to Americans, when the US team was eliminated by Ghana with a final score of 2-1 on Saturday’s game.
Ghana will now move ahead to the quarterfinals, where they will be only the third African squad to make it this far. On Friday they will be competing with Uruguay.