Cup Run Over: USA Falls To Ghana, 2-1
Saturday, June 26, 2010 at 6:10PM 
Americans Start Flat,
Can't Carry Momentum
From Wednesday's Thriller
One Great Season
The spirited second-half comeback against Slovenia, the 91st-minute goal to beat Algeria and the global sympathy offered up after questionable referees' calls were all once cute storylines, but they'll eventually pale in comparison to this harsh reality after the USA lets Saturday's Round-of-16 loss to Ghana sink in: the World Cup was a rather large disappointment for the American side.
Had the U.S. been eliminated by a traditional power like Germany today, and had they done so despite playing a full match with the heart and determination so evident through much of their Group C win, then perhaps a silver lining would be obvious.
But the Americans came out flat and though they eventually increased their intensity for a stretch, they'll be remembered for an overall punchless performance in an elimination game against an inferior team.
Ghana are no slouch; they're among the top footballing sides in Africa, but the USMNT is no slouch either and winning knockout games is something credible teams do with regularity at the World Cup. Lost in all the drama of Landon Donovan's 11th-hour goal Wednesday was the fact that the Americans were supposed to have advanced past the group stage.
Now that it's been an hour, here's how a few of the OGS World Cup writers are weighing in following the difficult loss:
+ Jeremy Brown
Landon Donovan's divorce will be finalized.
+ Bruce Sholl
We looked like shit, no intensity. What else do you want me to say?
+ Steve Susi
Having just returned to the States as the OGS European Bureau correspondent, the US Men's National Team today reminded me of a wheel of Holland's famous Edam cheese: waxed on the outside, soft in the middle, and if you leave it out too long, it starts to stink. In contrast, Ghana played like a nice Manchego, the Spanish varietal with a black rind that gets really runny when warm.
So proud of our boys, though. Heartbreaking, yes — but only after three performances which even the English fans I met all last week had to admit rendered us an international laughing-stock no longer.
+ Mike Dick
The U.S. laid an egg. Were it not for the crossbar, the Americans would have conceded goals in the first 10 minutes of each match and extra time. Piss poor. Can't create chances or finish them and crappy midfield.
Reader Comments (3)
As a complete soccer neophyte here is how I saw things:
The defense played back too much at the start of games which allowed the other team to attack too easily which is why they gave up early goals every game.
The offense looked explosive at times and when they had to play an attacking style their opponents were hard-pressed to stop them.
Something was physically wrong with Altidore against Ghana. I don't know what, but I saw him really laboring at times.
It is impossible to see a scoring chance in soccer without someone writhing on the ground in pain afterwards for no good reason. Impossible. And crap like that is why this game hasn't been more popular in the States. Weak.
I would like to see Ghana make a decent run for the Cup, not only becasue they are essentially the home team in a country that could really use the pick-me-up, but because it would legitimize the United States' effort and skill level even more.
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