The United States of America on Saturday beat Ghana’s Black Stars 2-1 at the Pratt & Whitney Stadium at Rentschler Field in Connecticut in a friendly match.
The match was a preparatory game for the Stars and Stripes towards the 2017 CONCACAF Gold Cup to be held from July 7 – 26.
Ghana’s coach Kwesi Appiah had disclosed that the match formed part of his preparations towards the resumption of the 2018 World Cup qualifiers.
Saturday’s match was well attended as the over 46,000 capacity stadium was filled by more than half of fans of both teams.
USA opened the score in the first half through Dom Dwyer, who beat the offside trap to smash home his first goal in his first game for the Americans.
Frank Acheampong was dispossessed of the ball in midfield as the Americans pushed forward into the penalty area with Jorge Villafana locating the 26-year-old Dwyer, who put his left-foot to work instantly.
Everyone, meet @Ddwyer14. @Ddwyer14, meet everyone. A dream #USMNT debut for the 26-year-old! ?? pic.twitter.com/41cLap5kGK
— U.S. Soccer (@ussoccer) July 1, 2017
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The Americans returned from the break with their lead and FC Dallas’ Kellyn Acosta made it 2-0 for his side.
The goal is his first international career goal.
An opportunity for Ghana to cut the deficit was missed by captain Asamoah Gyan, whose penalty kick – after Acheampong appeared to have made the most of being brought down in the box – was saved by his opposite captain Brad Guzan.
But Gyan made amends in the 60th minute when he curled in a freekick, this time beating the American shotstopper.
Though the two coaches rung the changes, the score remained the same, just like the three previous meetings of the sides.
Manager Bruce Arena may have clinched revenge from his side’s 2-1 loss to Ghana in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany.
USA Starting XI: Guzan; Villafana, Besler, Rowe, McCarty; Zusi, Acosta, Hedges, Arriola; Dwyer, Corona
Ghana Starting XI: R. Ofori; Sumaila, Agbenyegah, Akaminko, Boye; Abu, Acheampong, E. Ofori; Gyan, Dwamena, Accam
By Emmanuel Kwame Amoh|3news.com|Ghana