Clint Dempsey scored one of fastest goals in World Cup history and John Brooks scored the game winner on a header in the 86th minute of a 2-1 U.S. victory over Ghana, which had knocked the Americans out of the previous two World Cups.
Dempsey’ goal made him the first U.S. player to score in three different World Cups and was the fastest ever scored by an American in the tournament. The US is now tied with Germany atop of Group G.
In December, John Brooks was scolded publicly by his coach at German club Hertha Berlin to “shake off his youthfulness and become an adult.”
In April, the 21-year-old central defender burrowed further in the doghouse when he missed practices and a game due to inflammation from getting a large tattoo on his back.
In May, he was a surprise call-up into the U.S. national team by coach Jurgen Klinsmann and looked as unsure in games as he did speaking English.
And on a humid Monday night in northeastern Brazil, the son of an American serviceman and German mother was an improbable substitute who scored an improbable goal that breathed life into U.S. prospects in this World Cup’s group of death. Clint Dempsey’s goal in the opening 30 seconds and Brooks’ header off corner kick in the 86th minute gave the Yanks a dramatic 2-1 win against old World Cup nemesis Ghana at Arena das Dunas despite pretty much being dominated in between.
“In football,” Ghana captain Asamoah Gyan said, “things happen. They scored. We lost.”
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