United States of America 2 - Portugal 2

Photo by Dennis Grombkowski

Manaus was the site of the final group stage match between teams having made only one appearance at Brasil 2014. United States of America were seeking a win to send them into the knockout stages. Portugal were seeking points in order to avoid being eliminated. Portugal took a lead on a play that really should not have gone their way. American centerback Geoff Cameron completely muffed an attempted clearance. Rather than sending the ball upfield, the ball traveled across his own box to a grateful Nani. To his credit, Nani was cool and composed as he capitalized upon the gift to put the Portuguese ahead 1-0. From then on, the United States appeared to be in control of the match. Amrican captain Clint Dempsey (pictured, white) was the danger man, but he was only able to manufacture a couple shots from very obtuse angles, leading to simple enough positioning-based saves from Portugal goalkeeper Beto. In a telling moment midway through the half, Portugal were defending with all eleven players in their half of the pitch. In the final five minutes, Nani was having some joy in attack. He struck a shot that United States goalkeeper Tim Howard had to answer with a save. In the final minute, Nani unleashed a drive that somehow scraped through Howard's hands. Luckily for Howard, the ball caromed off his post. Portugal forward Eder shot off the rebound, but Howard managed to push the ball over his crossbar as he was losing his balance. Portugal made it to halftime with a 1-0 lead.

The Americans came out with renewed vigor for the second period. America right back Fabian Johnson made yet another run up the pitch, and this time he was rewarded with the ball. Johnson slipped into the box and drew Beto off his line, Johnson passed around him to Michael Bradley for what appeared to be a simple finish. However, Bradley did not angle the ball to the vacant part of the net, and Ricardo Costa (pictured, burgundy #13) made a fantastic knee save off the line to cover for his goalkeeper. United States got the goal they fully deserved off a half-clearance by Portugal from an American corner kick. Jermaine Jones gathered the ball, took a touch, and shot a ball into the side netting from twenty-seven yards to level that match at 1-1. Alejandro Bedoya had a golden opportunity to send in a cross from the right side to find an open American teammate at the far post, but his ball sailed on him. With under ten minutes left in regulation, the Yanks turned a half-chance into a full goal. Bradley had his shot blocked, but Graham Zusi gathered the rebound. He sent a calm chip into the path of Dempsey, who beat the offside line and chested the ball across the line for a 2-1 advantage. The lead looked like it was going to hold up as the Americans were defending in numbers, but a beautiful cross from Cristiano Ronaldo found the head of a streaking Silvestre Varela, who ran behind Cameron and powered a massive header from six yards away to equalize the match at the death. The match ends in a 2-2 draw that does nothing to enhance Portugal's chances of survival.

Germany 4 pts +4
USA 4 pts +1
Ghana 1 pts -1
Portugal 1 pts -4

Goals
Portugal
Nani 5
Silvestre Varela 90+5

United States of America
Jermaine Jones 64
Clint Dempsey 81

Match Reports:
http://www.ussoccer.com/stories/2014/06/22/08/09/140622-mntvpor-matchday

Highlights:

Ghana 2 - Germany 2

Photo by Laurence Griffiths

Ghana needed some sort of result against Group G favorites Germany in Fortaleza today in order to revive their flagging hopes. For the second consecutive FIFA World Cup finals, the Boateng brothers faced off on different sides of the ball. Germany were having a jolly good time passing the ball through the slightest of openings in the Ghanaian backline, and after a series where more than half the team touched the ball, Toni Kroos had a shot set up directly by a backheel no-look pass from Thomas Muller. However, Jonathan Mensah was able to block the shot. Christian Atsu was able to get onto his favored left foot form the half-circle, but Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was up to the challenge on the diving save. Asamoah Gyan was the focal point for the Ghanaian attack. He received a ball in the box, forcing Philipp Lahm to toe poke it upfield. Sulley Muntari gathered the rebound and belted a line drive that Neuer punched backupfield. Neither team was able to breach the goal line in the first period, and they leave the pitch tied at 0-0.

Five minutes into the half, just as it seemed the game ha calmed down considerably. Mario Gotze mad a spectacular run across the front of Ghanaian right back Harrison Afful to get open at the penalty spot. Gotze headed the cross from ?? off his own knee and into the Ghanaian net to give Die Mannschaft a 1-0 lead. But three minutes later, Andre Ayew had his second equalizing goal in as many matches. The defense sagged off the cross of Afful from the right flank, so he played a brilliant ball into the danger area. Ayew got goalside of his marker ? Mustafi and nodded into the net for 1-1. Muntari stripped a ball in the attacking third for Ghana. He immediately released a pass forward for Gyan. Gyan got his shot off before Per Mertesacker made up the ground, beating Neuer with a curling shot into the far side netting to put the Black Stars ahead 2-1. Jordan Ayew made a magnificent run up the left side of the pitch and skipped two German tackles at midfield. He completed his run of over sixty yards inside the German box with a cut back, but his shot was not worthy of the buildup. Germany made a double substitution to put more men in the attack. These men were Bastian Schweinsteiger and Miroslav Klose. Mesut Ozil (picture, white) chipped a ball to Schweinsteiger short of the near post. Schweinsteiger flicked a header toward goal, but Ghanaian centerback John Bye ws there to pop the ball out for a corner kick. From that very corner kick, Germany drew level. Benedikt Howedes headed from the near post to the far post, and Klose was the only player to react quickly enough as he tapped in at the back post to become Germany's all-time top goal scorer. Germany seemed very intent on finding a way to win this match, and Ghana no longer looked to be protagonists in this match. Ozil hit a ball across the face of goal that beat the goalkeeper, but Mensah was able to clear the ball before Muller could tap in for the winner. In stoppage time, Germany commited too many numbers forward on a set piece, and Ghana had a three-on-two breakaway for the victory. Unfortunately, they played themselves into an offsides position. In the final moment, Muntari drew a yellow card, meaning he will be suspended for Ghana's third match of the tournament. The two teams play to a 2-2 draw, a fair result given all the action on the pitch.

Germany 4 pts +4
USA 3 pts +1
Ghana 1 pts -1
Portugal 0 pts -4

Goals
Germany
Mario Gotze 51
Miroslav Klose 71

Ghana
Andre Ayew 54
Asamoah Gyan 63

Match Reports:

Highlights:

United States of America 2 - Ghana 1

Photo by Alex Livesey

United States of America were looking to avoid becoming the first side to lose to the same opponent in three straight FIFA World Cup finals as they took on rivals Ghana in Natal today. The Yanks got off to a dream start. Off a throw-in play, American captain Clint Dempsey shook Ghanaian centerback John Boye and then sprinted into the box before Boye could recover. Dempsey finished with his off-foot off the inside of the far post to give the Americans a 1-0 lead after just thirty seconds of play. After the first five minutes of the game, Ghana were in complete and utter control of the match. United States lost their starting forward Jozy Altidore to hamstring injury twenty minutes into the game, not that the American forward would have received much service on this night. Ghanaian right winger Christian Atsu was having a field day against American left back DaMarcus Beasley, and left centerback Matt Besler was miserable today in support. Atsu had multiple wide-open thirty-yard shots on this day, but somehow none went into the back of the net. Just beyond the half hour mark, Ghana striker Asamoah Gyan ripped a ball from just outside the box, but United States goalkeeper Tim Howard was able to push the ball to safety and protect the lead. There was a dangerous moment when Boye challenged Dempsey for a header. Boye was pushed in midair by Dempsey, causing him to land on his back, but Boye managed to kick Dempsey in the face. Dempsey appeared to have suffered a broken nose, but he remained in the match. More out of sheer luck than actual merit, United States led 1-0 at halftime.

In the second half, nothing changed. Ghana were still dominant, and the Americans were forced to play ten men behind the ball. Still, Ghana were finding seams in the defense. Any time the Yanks gained possession, they failed to string together passes and the Black Stars would be back on the offensive. The only saving graces on this day for the Americans were defensive midfielders Kyle Beckerman (pictured, red) and Jermaine Jones, who continually won crucial tackles and made crucial blocks throughout the match. Ghanaian left back Kwadwo Asamoah had freedom to overlap during the entire game, and he picked a good spot with less than ten minutes to go. He caught substitute right winger Graham Zusi tucked too far inside and made the run up the sideline to receive a pass in space. Zusi caught up, but Asamoah cut inside and then played the ball forward to Gyan. American right back Fabian Johnson turned his back on Andre Ayew to go double-team the ball. Gyan backheeled to Ayew, who finished with the outside of his foot to level the match at 1-1. United States only managed three attempts on goal during the course of the match. Somehow, they scored on two of those chances. A Zusi corner kick went over the first line of Ghanaian defenders and came to the head of substitute centerback John Brooks's head. Brooks had beaten Boye to the spot, so he headed into the ground to cause the ball to bounce up and into the net. Some more desperate defending coupled with poor Ghanaian finishing allowed United States to win 2-1 in completely undeserved fashion. Brooks's first international goal proved to be the game-winner.

Germany 3 pts +4
USA 3 pts +1
Ghana 0 pts -1
Portugal 0 pts -4

Goals
United States of America
Clint Dempsey 1
John Brooks 86

Ghana
Andre Ayew 82

Match Reports:
http://soccer.si.com/planet-futbol/2014/06/16/usa-ghana-world-cup-commentary-recap-group-g-klinsmann
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=avenged-americans-beat-black-stars-2373427.html
http://soccer.si.com/soccer/planet-futbol/2014/06/16/john-brooks-usa-world-cup-ghana-winning-goal-dream
http://www.zonalmarking.net/2014/06/17/world-cup-2014-group-stage-day-5/ (Daily Summary)

Highlights:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186512/index.html

Germany 4 - Portugal 0

Photo by Phil Walter

Salvador was the site for the opening match in Group G between Germany and Portugal. Portugal were attacking the right side of the German defense from the opening whistle, with German right centerback Per Mertesacker unable to cope with the pace of Portuguese left winger Cristiano Ronaldo. Ronaldo first created a shot for his center forward Hugo Almeida. Next time around, Ronaldo had a heavy shot on target, but Germany goalkeeper Manuel Neuer was able to get his body in front of the ball. Portuguese centerback Pepe got his goalkeeper Rui Patricio (pictured, green) in severe trouble, and Patricio had to blindly hit a ball upfield. Sami Khedira intercepted the pass and first-timed a shot at the empty net, but he shot curled wide of frame. Portugal did not take advantage of their good fortune. Soon thereafter, Joao Pereira (pictured, red) was beaten inside his own box off the dribble Mario Gotze (pictured, white in background), so he had to take Gotze down to prevent a clean shot at goal. The result was a penalty kick that Germany converted for a 1-0 lead. The game's place slowed significantly. A quarter hour after the goal, Portugal had a chance when Nani hit an inside-out shot just over the crossbar. Mesut Ozil had sprinted behind the Portuguese defense on a through ball. He laid off for Gotze, but a tackle from Pereira sent the ball out for a corner kick. Toni Kroos put in a great cross, and German centerback Mats Hummels outjumped Pepe to power the header home for a 2-0 lead. Portugal were surprised by their own successful passing on a play with ten minutes left. Fabio Coentrao had beaten an offside trap and had the ball seven yards from goal, but he chose to forgo the shot and pass to a completely unaware Ronaldo. Pepe was shown a straight red in minute 37 for touching heads with a seated Thomas Muller (pictured, white #13) while accosting Muller for pretending to be hurt. The harsh punishment all but sealed Portugal's fate in this match. In stoppage time, Muller stole a clearance from Bruno Alves and then immediately shot and scored. Germany left the pitch ahead 3-0.

Five minutes into the half, Germany were still looking to add to their lead. Ozil was onside from a pass from Gotze, but Patricio made the save. Muller's header after the fact missed the open net. Things went from worse to worst for Portugal when the lost Coentrao to an injury. Nani was onside and in the box off a Ronaldo through ball, but Mertesacker blocked his shot to avert the danger for Germany. On the counteract, Andre Schurrle received a forty-yard pass from Muller and then played for Gotze in the box, only for Raul Meireles to block his shot at goal. Schurrle hit a ball across the face of goal. Patricio tried to parry the ball to safety from the ground but failed miserably. Muller finished his hat trick with a tap-in rebound to give Germany a four-goal advantage. In stoppage time, Ronaldo absolutely drilled a free kick on frame, but Neuer palmed the ball aside to preserve his clean sheet. Germany win 4-0 to leap enthusiastically atop Group G.

Goals
Germany
Thomas Muller 12 PK, 45+1, 78
Mats Hummels 32

Match Reports:
http://soccer.si.com/planet-futbol/2014/06/16/germany-portugal-world-cup-commentary-recap-ronaldo-group-g
http://www.espnfc.us/team/portugal/482/blog/post/1887846/brassell-portugal-must-regroupnot-panic

Highlights:
http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/videos/highlights/match=300186475/index.html