USA vs Ghana 2nd Half/Extra Time

I don't know what Coach Bradley said at halftime but whatever it was it fired up the US soccer team.  The USA came out for the 2nd half with an energy and fire that was missing in the 1st half.  They were able to start getting decent shots on goal and put Ghana on their heels.  In the 62nd minute, the US finally caught a break when Clint Dempsey was fouled in the penalty box.  This allowed Landon Donovan a chance to take the penalty kick.  Donovan waited for the ref's whistle and once that sounded he kicked the ball and hit the right post, the ball sneaking into the goal.  Finally the US was on the board and the score was tied 1-1.

For the rest of the game the US tried hard to score again, but nothing went their way.  Ghana seemed content and didn't really have any chance at scoring.  Since nothing was going the American's way, the game ended in a 1-1 tie, but since this was the knockout round their would be another 30 minutes of play and if it was still tied after that, the game would come down to penalty kicks.  Three minutes into the overtime play, the US defense once again gave up a ball and Ghana was on the run and scored a goal that should never have happened.  This goal completely deflated the US.  They seemed to lose all the energy they had and Ghana was able to control the game.  The final whistle blew with the score Ghana 2, the US 1.  The US players dropped to their knees in despair while the Ghana players jumped in the air in celebration.

To me the US weren't that impressive during the World Cup.  They never played to their potential until their backs were against the wall, whether it was being down 2-0 to Slovenia or waiting until the 90th minute to finally score against Algeria.  Playing that way will catch up to you sooner or later and it did against Ghana.  Hopefully in the next few years the US will learn to start a game and not allow early goals and maybe score some themselves.  Heres to 2014 where hopefully the US can show the world they are ready to play with the big boys like Spain, Portugal, Argentina, Germany and Brazil.