The USA’s habit of giving up early World Cup goals cost them dearly as Ghana sent them tumbling out of the tournament with a 2-1 win in extra time in Rustenburg on June 26. Not only did the Americans fall behind early in the game, they also gave up a goal right after the extra time session started and then simply ran out of gas and ideas.

Ghana took a 1-0 lead just five minutes into the contest as Kevin Prince Boateng scored with a long, low left footer from the edge of the box after midfielder Ricardo Clark lost the ball. Forward Robbie Findlay almost leveled the score 30 minutes later after midfielder Clint Dempsey set him up, but Ghanaian keeper Richard Kingson pulled off a fine save.

The Americans, as usual, didn’t panic though, and slowly clawed their way back into the game. They equalized it in the 62nd minute after the referee ruled that Dempsey was brought down by defender John Mensah as the American burst into the box with the ball. However, television replays showed Mensah got the ball first. Captain Landon Donovan calmly walked up to the penalty spot and placed his shot into the net off of the right goal post while Kingson dove the other way.

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The rest of the second half provided both teams with opportunities to win the game, with the Americans coming the closest. However, Kingson made some fine saves on forward Jozy Altidore and midfielder Michael Bradley and it ended 1-1 after 90 minutes. Ghana jumped out to a 2-1 lead in the third minute of extra time as Asamoah Gyan held off two defenders and smashed the ball past American keeper Tim Howard for his third goal of the tournament.

This seemed to deflate the Americans and their usual comeback wasn’t produced as they couldn’t penetrate the Ghanaian defence for an equalizer. They kept pumping the ball into the Ghanaian box, but couldn’t produce any scoring chances. They looked tired and lacked their usual imagination, and time ran eventually out on them.

The World Cup was bittersweet for the USA as they brought hope to their nation and then ultimately broke its heart with the defeat. Manager Bob Bradley instilled a good fighting spirit into the squad and their never-say-die attitude was appreciated by American football supporters, as they watched the World Cup in record numbers on television. The team also received excellent live support as American fans bought the most tickets to games after South African supporters. Donovan proved he is one of the brightest players on the world scene and the USA should have a bright future ahead.

Ghana, which is the youngest team in the tournament, also put the USA out of the World Cup tournament at the same stage and by the same score four years ago in Germany. They will now take on Group A winners Uruguay at Soccer City in Johannesburg in a quarterfinal match in on July 2. They are the only African nation left in this year’s World Cup.