OT: US beats Ghana 2-1
Dom Dwyer was born and raised in England -- just like many of the Founders!
He became an American citizen in March of this year.
You now what I love? America!
Watch Dwyer score the first goal here
Second goal by Kellyn Acosta here:
As a side note, while this was a friendly, it was against a rival: Ghana, which goes by the nickname the Black Stars.
Ghana beat us twice in the World Cup in 2006 and 2010. We were put in the "Group of Death" with them last go around and beat them 2-1 to get to the knock-out rounds. More on the history here.
Summary of the game here.
had some wicked english!
A little lucky to get the bounce on Dwyer's goal, but a superb finish. And I love having a free kick maestro (Acosta) in the squad. Still undefeated in Arena's second stint as manager!
took like 20 steps to go 4 feet and the ball ends up a half-foot out of reach.
Did stop a PK, though
But it wasn't missed by half a foot. He actually got a finger tip on it. Another 2 inches and it goes over the bar.
That was a damn pretty shot. Footwork was a little Fred Flintstone-esque but that shot was almost perfect and he did get a finger on it
I mean he put it in the top corner over a wall...sometimes you just gotta tip your hat to a perfect play by the opponet. Guzan had a very good game otherwise. Very decisive is coming out of goal and sure handed.
Ghana's goalie got away with one. Should have been a red card but it was just a friendly. It was probably for the better for the US that he stayed in the game.
Love that Dwyer kissed the crest after his awesome goal.
Big time moment right there. About damn time he got his chance.
If this is a rivalry then Michigan-Rutgers is a rivalry.
have to disagree.
????
Ignore
Why do our games always end up 2-1? Also, the Ghanaian team has been looking pretty lackluster the past few years.
It's soccer 2-1 is a very common score.
In the past 4 meetings, iirc the score has been 2-1. Even if half of soccer games ended 2-1 (they don't), that'd still be a somewhat interesting stat.
This a great post. It is informative, new, and points towards relevant information. I wish all posts were like this!
Dwyer acquitted himself quite well. May be should have done better with a couple of chances, but was very active and didn't get disconnected from the game as essentially a lone striker like we see Altidore do often. My main disappointments were not seeing more of Saief, no Lichaj. Acosta presents an interesting problem if he keeps his play up and improves. He can effectively play in a double pivot which Jones cannot, but is not the destroyer and energy guy that Jones is either. And if you play a double pivot, then assuming a back four, that usually means 1 striker which is not Altidore's thing. But Altidore is playing really really well lately when playing with other up top. Arena's got some thinkin' to do.
Was a good win - we would have lost if Klinsmann had been in charge. Good riddance.
Has a hockey team?
So does this further the narrative that Jurgen was an excellent team director and lousy manager or just that he was lousy all around?
Lando must be loveing this to some degree...
Is getting too much love.
Guys like Dwyer, Acosta, McCarty were not even close to being on Klinsmann's radar.
I know it is just a friendly and it is early in Arena's 2nd tenure but I am completely impressed that he is not just playing all the old guys. Seems to be a real effort to mix the young blood in.