Sundulan Brook Tekuk Ghana setelah Gol Cepat Dempsey
Brook`s Late Header Sinks Ghana after Dempsey Fastest Goal in 29 Seconds
Editor : Ismail Gani
Translator : Novita Cahyadi
Natal (B2B) - Gol Clint Dempsey dan pemain pengganti John Brooks membuat AS memetik angka penuh tiga poin setelah menang 2-1 dari Ghana dalam laga Grup G Piala Dunia 2014 yang berlangsung di Estadio das Dunas, Natal, Brasil, Selasa pagi WIB.
Gol cepat Clint Dempsey pada menit 1 babak pertama mengantarkan Amerika Serikat unggul 1-0 dari Ghana pada babak pertama laga kedua negara di Grup G tersebut. Sejauh ini, gol Dempsey tersebut adalah gol tercepat di turnamen Brasil ini, seperti dilansir Yahoo Sports.
Setelah didahului kreasi dari Jermaine Jones, Dempsey mengolah bola melewati barisan depan Ghana untuk diakhirnya dengan melepaskan tembakan kaki kiri ke arah sudut kanan bawah gawang Ghana yang dijaga Adam Kwarasey.
Setelah menggempur AS habis-habisan pada dua babak pertandingan, Ghana akhirnya menyamakan kedudukan pada menit 82 setelah Andre Ayew menciptakan gol usai mengolah umpan Asamoah Gyan untuk diakhirnya dengan tendangan terukur yang memperdaya kiper Tim Howard.
Ghana sepertinya akan terselamatkan dari kekalahan, namun hanya empat menit dari gol Ayew pada menit ke-82, Amerika Serikat kembali unggul pada menit 86 lewat tandukan keras menyusur ke bawah yang dilepaskan pemain pengganti John Brooks.
Menerima kiriman bola lambung dari sepak pojok uang dilepaskan Graham Zusi, Brooks melompat untuk menanduk bola dengan keras dan dia pantulkan ke permukaan lapangan sehingga mengecoh Adam Kwarasey.
Ghana bangkit kembali untuk menyamakan kedudukan tapi tak berhasil dan kedudukan 2-1 bertahan sampai usai pertandingan.
Natal - Clint Dempsey scored the fastest goal by an American in World Cup history and the fifth-quickest ever, putting the United States ahead after 29 seconds of its opener against Ghana on Monday night.
DaMarcus Beasley, the first American to play in four World Cups, exchanged the ball with Dempsey on a throw-in on the left flank. Dempsey passed the ball to Jermaine Jones, who sent it on to Dempsey.
The U.S. captain played the ball from his left foot to his right, cut around John Boye and inside of Sulley Muntari, then beat goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey with a left-footed shot from 8 yards that went in off the far post. The quick goal set off raucous cheers from the red, white and blue-clad American fans at the other end of Arena das Dunas, who had just drowned out the recording of ´´The Star-Spangled Banner.´´
Dempsey became the first American to score in three World Cups. Then a midfielder, Dempsey had goals in the 2-1 loss to Ghana in 2006 and the opening 1-1 tie against England four years ago. He became the first American forward to score at a World Cup since Brian McBride against Mexico in 2002.
The U.S. held a lead for less than three minutes at the 2010 World Cup, after Landon Donovan´s stoppage-time goal against Algeria, which propelled the Americans to the knockout rounds.
Dempsey finished the first half with a bloody nose after a kick to the face from Boye in a battle for a header in the 33rd minute. Dempsey returned to the field three minutes later, playing with tissue in his nose to stop the bleeding, which he later said was probably broken.
