USA Team: Keller, Bocanegra, Cherundolo (Johnson 61), Onyewu, Conrad, Reyna (Olsen 40), Lewis (Convey 74), Beasley, Donovan, Dempsey, McBride

Ghana Team: Kingson, Mensah, Shilla, Boateng (O.Addo 46), Mohammed, Appiah, Essien, Pantsil, Amoah (E.Addo 59), Pimpong, Draman (Tachie-Mensah 80)

Match Report: A win for the United States was required to at least give them a chance of qualifying to the knockout stages, and actually would have seen them qualify from the group stage when the Czech Republic v Italy fixture had been completed. Unfortunately for the USA, Ghana too had everything to play for.

The USA had performed much better in their second group game with a spirited draw against Italy, and set off in similar vein in this game, determined to mix it in the tackle with the aggressive Ghanaians.

Michael Essien was again very instrumental for the Ghanaians as he has been all tournament. If USA could negate him, you sensed they could really test Ghana.

Onyewu & Bocanegra looked far more solid at the back for USA, and in front of them the midfield had obviously been given instructions by Arena to hunt the ball and press opponents into mistakes. This appeared to be working in the early stages, as Ghana failed to keep possession and increasingly the USA probed for openings.

Reyna again appeared to be playmaker for the Americans, and Beasley looked much more dangerous bursting forward from midfield, but Ghana definitely looked capable on the break, if given space.

Reyna made a catastrophic error 22 minutes in when he dwelled on possession and allowed Draman to pinch the ball around 30 yards out. Draman was swiftly into the box uncontested and coolly slotted home to the left of a sprawling Keller.

Reyna had gone down as if injured, but when the referee's whistle never came, he managed a sneaky look up to watch Draman put the ball in. It suggested that his pride was hurt more than his leg. Reyna was substituted just before half time.

America still continued to have the better of the possession, but seemed unable to carve out an opening. Essien split the USA defence for Pimpong to attempt a shot, but it is easy to see why Pimpong has been sat on the bench for most of this tournament after his pathetic toe poke.

Kingson looked to be fairly solid in the Ghana nets and a difficult free kick by Lewis was expertly punched away from danger as USA got their best chance so far - well over half an hour in.

The equaliser came soon after, when the lively Beasley outstripped the defence for pace down the Left and crossed low and early for Dempsey to apply a firm finish. No more than the US deserved for their endeavour.

What came next for them, they certainly didn't deserve.

With injury stoppage time almost up in the first period a hopeful ball into the US box was headed out by Onyewu, who was marking Pimpong. Pimpong went down under no pressure at all from Onyewu, and claimed for a penalty. Referee Markus Merk obliged with a truly terrible penalty award.

Stephen Appiah, the charismatic leader of the Ghana squad stepped up and sent a virtually unstoppable penalty past Keller to retake the lead. USA now had a mountain to climb.

Half Time Ghana 2 USA 1

The second half started in the same way as the first, with USA desperately trying to outbattle the Ghanaians and, with a man less, still getting their fair share of the ball. The hard part was creating the openings.

Appiah had a long range effort saved comfortably for Ghana, but their attacking had started to wane. Perhaps they were content to hold what they already had. All the urgency seemed to come from the US side.

Lewis was effective down the Left, with Beasley and the newly introduced Johnson darting forward to support lone striker McBride. A fine run and cross from Lewis almost brought a deserved equaliser, when McBride anticipated the cross and made a run to the near post. His stooping header struck the upright and came out.

Onyewu headed just over from a corner after rising like a salmon at the far post to power a header in. There were still 15 minutes on the clock, and the USA were desperately pressing. Ghana still decided on the philosophy of defending their lead, and clearly thought they could hang on, maybe nicking one on the counter if the chance came.

The Ghanaians appear to have made the right choice of tactic, as attack after attack floundered for the USA, and although maurauding forward, they could not find a killer pass or a moment of individual brilliance to get them back in the game.

A solid performance from Ghana, but a fine spirited display from the under strength Americans. They have certainly gone a long way to putting right their woeful performance in the opening game against Czech Republic.

Full Time: Ghana 2 USA 1

USA Ratings: Keller 6, Bocanegra 7, Cherundolo 6 (Johnson 7), Onyewu 8, Conrad 6, Reyna 4 (Olsen 5), Lewis 5 (Convey 6), Beasley 7, Donovan 5, Dempsey 6, McBride 6

Ghana Ratings: Kingson 7, Mensah 6, Shilla 7, Boateng 6 (O.Addo 6), Mohammed 5, Appiah 7, Essien 7, Pantsil 5, Amoah 5 (E.Addo 6), Pimpong 3, Draman 6 (Tachie-Mensah 6)

Referee: M.Merk (Germany) 2. Merk the berk strikes again. This bloke always makes a massive cock up somewhere. A rediculous penalty award that effectively decide the game.

Good: Onyewu, who had come with a big reputation and performed like a retard until today, actually produced a good display and looked like a decent player. Keep it up.

Bad: Unfortunately the ref again. Stupid penalty decision.

Ugly: Reyna's attempts to disguise his dropped clanger by feigning injury. It was your fault - no excuses.