Three minutes later the U.S. equalized. DaMarcus Beasley stole the ball from Derek Boateng and sent a low drive across the penalty area that Clint Dempsey drilled into the net from eight yards. The goal was the first scored by an American -- other than an own goal -- in the World Cup in 338 minutes, dating back to the 2-0 victory over Mexico in the 2002 Round of 16.
The U.S. found itself facing another one-goal deficit as Merk called a questionable penalty kick on Oguchi Onyewu for taking down Razak Pimpong in the box two minutes into first-half injury time. Midfielder Stephen Appiah converted PK into the middle of the goal as Keller dove to his right.
"I don't want to sound like a conspiracy theory, but in 100 years that's not a penalty kick," Donovan said. "I don't know what the thinking was.”
Ghana 2, U.S. 1 (June 26, 2010)
The thrill of the iconic goal by Landon Donovan gave way to despair when the USA – playing on just two days rest following the epic victory against Algeria – lost in extra time.
For the second time in the competition, the Americans overcame an early deficit but could not use their magic to offset Asamoah Gyan's extra time goal en route to a defeat in a Round of 16 match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
"Obviously, we are disappointed," said Landon Donovan, whose 62nd-minute penalty tied it at 1-1. "The way we went out was frustrating because we played a pretty good game and made a couple of mistakes and got punished for it.”
After the game, Donovan sat on the U.S. bench by himself.
"The finality of it is brutal," said Donovan, who scored three of the team’s five goals. "You realize how much you've put into it, not only for the last four years, but your whole life. There's no guarantee there's another opportunity at that."
Added goalkeeper Tim Howard: "Certainly there's an opportunity missed. We should have won the game, certainly at least take it to penalty kicks, but it wasn't to be."
For the third time in four games in the competition, the U.S. surrendered the first goal.
"I don't know if we had anything left, we were pushing so much the entire tournament," captain and defender Carlos Bocanegra said.
Added Howard: "We just gave ourselves too much of a mountain to climb. We couldn't come back."
The winning goal became a battle between Rennes teammates from the French Ligue 1. Gyan took a gathered in a pass from Andre Ayew and beat Bocanegra, who tried pushing him off the ball, and then sent a left-footed shot past Howard to the right corner.
Ghana took a fifth-minute lead. Kevin Prince Boateng stripped Ricardo Clark of the ball at midfield and bolted down on the left side before beating Howard with a 12-yard shot.
U.S. 2, Ghana 1 (June 16, 2014)
Defender John Brooks had a dream that he was going to score the winning goal and because it came true, the USMNT still had a dream of reaching the Round of 16 at the 2014 World Cup in Natal, Brazil.
The second-half substitute connected on Graham Zusi's corner kick in the 86th minute to boost the Americans to a dramatic victory over their nemesis. The win gave the U.S. a fighting chance of advancing from Group G.
“It’s a great moment for me,” Brooks said. “Unbelievable. I had a dream [two days ago]. I told some teammates I dreamed I scored in the 80th minute, and we win the game. And now it was the 86th minute and we won.”
Head coach Jurgen Klinsmann was grateful that his team put in a gutty performance.
“We just have to grind it out and push and push,” he said. “We have some great spirit. It was fun.”
