Dempsey scores early but Brooks secures win for US

Wednesday, 18 June 2014 00:00 - - {{hitsCtrl.values.hits}}

NATAL Brazil (Reuters): The United States got a dream start to their World Cup campaign when Clint Dempsey scored the fifth fastest goal in tournament history but they needed an 86th minute winner from John Brooks to secure a dramatic 2-1 victory over Ghana on Monday.

Dempsey drilled the ball into the net with the goal officially timed at 29 seconds and it looked like being enough until Andre Ayew finally secured some reward for Ghana’s pressure with an equaliser seven minutes from the end. The match then appeared destined for a draw until substitute defender Brooks rose to head Graham Zusi’s corner firmly into the back of the net and give the United States revenge over the team that ended their participation in the last two World Cups. Juergen Klinsmann’s side will now go onto their next match against Portugal, beaten 4-0 by Germany in the Group G opener earlier on Monday, with renewed belief that they can reach the last 16 for the fourth time in the last seven tournaments. “We knew it was going to be a grind and it was going to go down to the wire,” said German Klinsmann, who maintained his record of having won the opening match at every World Cup he has competed in as both a player and a coach. “I was convinced we would win the game even after the equaliser. I knew two or three opportunities would come and we would have to take one. It is a good feeling to have the first three points.” The Black Stars, quarter-finalists and heroes of an entire continent in South Africa four years ago, rued their profligacy in front of goal and now face a huge task if they are to get past the group stage for the third straight tournament.

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