With Jozy Altidore ruled out of Sunday’s Group G match against Portugal, manager Jurgen Klinsmann has two choices at striker: Aron Johannsson (left), or Chris Wondolowski (right). Credit: ESPN FC
The United States thrilling 2-1 win against Ghana has come at a price.
Striker Jozy Altidore, who sustained a left hamstring strain during the match on Monday, has been ruled out for Sunday’s match against Portugal (6 p.m. on ESPN). This means the United States will be without its strongest body up front. After the loss of Altidore, the U.S. had trouble building a consistent attack.
Aron Johannsson, the Icelandic-American who came on for Altidore after the injury in the 21st minute, is the likely candidate to start against Portugal. The 23-year-old has appeared in 9 international matches for the United States, tallying two goals.
If manager Jurgen Klinsmann decides against Johansson, he has the option to start Chris Wondolowski. Wondolowski, who plays for San Jose Earthquakes of MLS, is a little more experienced internationally with 20 caps. He did not appear in the match against Ghana.
Klinsmann said he hopes for Altidore to return at some point during the World Cup, but did not give a time frame of when this would be.
In other United States news:
Clint Dempsey will play after sustaining a kick to the face against Ghana on Monday. He said to have trouble breathing out of his nose the rest of the game. It will be of concern to the United States however, because their next match against Portugal is in Manaus in the heart of the rainforest, where it is extremely hot and humid. Dempsey will not wear a protective mask.
Matt Besler, who also suffered a hamstring injury against Ghana, is okay and will play against Portugal.
NATAL, BRAZIL – JUNE 16: John Brooks of the United States scores his team’s second goal on a header past Adam Kwarasey of Ghana during the 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil Group G match between Ghana and the United States at Estadio das Dunas on June 16, 2014 in Natal, Brazil. (Photo by Laurence Griffiths/Getty Images)
Ask any casual soccer fan to name player on the United States, you’ll undoubtedly hear a few familiar names.
But a player only the diehard soccer fans would have heard of became a national hero.
John Brooks, the 21-year-old German born center back making his World Cup debut, headed home a goal in the 86th minute of a 1-1 game to give the United States a needed 2-1 victory and a valuable three points.
“I told some teammates that I had a dream, that I would score in the 88th minute,” said Brooks. “Now it was the 86th minute but I’m happy about it.”
It didn’t come easy though. Striker Jozy Altidore left the game with a strained left hamstring. Clint Dempsey looked like he was in a welterweight championship fight with a bloodied nose. Matt Besler also left the game with a hamstring problem, though it was far less serious than that of Altidore’s.
Clint Dempsey is kicked in the face during the first half of the USA’s 2-1 victory over Ghana. Dempsey claimed to have broken his nose on this play.
After giving up an absolutely beautiful goal from Dempsey 31 seconds into the match, Ghana looked lost. Seemingly stunned, the Black Stars could not get anything going offensively in the first half. But in the second, things changed. Ghana controlled possession, forcing the United States to turn the ball over. When substitute Kevin Prince Boateng came on for Ghana, they poured on the attack even more. Tim Howard made a few big saves, coupled with timely defending from Jermaine Jones and Geoff Cameron to keep the Black Stars at bay. Ghana finished with 21 shots, and controlled 62 percent of possession.
But late in the game, Ghana finally broke through off a beautiful give and go that Andre Ayew was able to touch past Howard. With only minutes remaining, it looked as if Ghana had stolen the two points back from the United States.
The aforementioned Jermaine Jones played one of his best matches of his career. Though he did not create offensively, he did set up the ball on a superb pass to Dempsey for the first goal. He was stalwart defensively and played with a tenacity not before seen by Jones.
Geoff Cameron also had a big game for the US. He was able to block big shots when needed and dealt with balls in the air extremely well to aid the defensive unit.
This win came at a price though. Altidore’s hamstring sounds serious, and he could miss the match Sunday against Portugal. Besler, also coming out with a hamstring injury, should be okay to go Sunday but will still be of concern. It was an extremely hard played match that left both teams coming out black and blue.
Also discouraging is that star midfielder Michael Bradley did not look sharp for the United States. He gave away the ball countless times uncharacteristically and completed only 50 percent of his passes.
What’s encouraging to United States fans though? They got the three points they needed while still playing their best game.
It was an American win. Play hard though sometimes sloppy, have the opposition attack, score on set pieces, be physical and score a stunning goal late in the match.
But the United States can play better. Bradley was not himself that game and should be back in form. And with five days off between now and Portugal, the Yanks will have time to recover to hopefully pounce on a demoralized Cristiano Ronaldo and company.
For right now, the United States are second in Group G with three points. Three points manager Jurgen Klinsmann said they had to have. Three points they needed if they hoped to continue to have any chance to advance. Three points they deserved.
And it was all thanks to some grit, a little luck, and a German-born American no one had ever heard of, and whom no one will soon forget.
The Nestel Cup 