One comeback too many for Americans
Reuters - Saturday 26 June 2010, 23:15
RUSTENBURG - The United
States were
forced to chase one comeback too many and ran out of steam in
their bid to stay in the World Cup, coach Bob Bradley said after
Saturday's defeat to Ghana.
The Americans showed an
admirable fighting quality in
staging several dramatic comebacks to force their way through to
the knockout stages but their coach said giving away an early
goal in the second round match at Rustenburg took a heavy toll.
"The fact we gave away a goal
so quickly, it was going to be
hard to get back," he said of the fifth minute strike by Ghana's
Kevin-Prince Boateng that had the Americans on the back foot at
the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
"We put a lot into it trying to
get back to 1-1. We put
ourselves in that spot one too many times, expending too much
energy."
The United States overcame the
early deficit to take charge
in the second half and equalise through Landon Donovan, who
converted a 62nd minute penalty.
But Bradley said when they were
caught again by a goal from
Asamoah Gyan three minutes into extra time, there was nothing
left in reserve to stage another fightback.
The United States came from
behind against England to draw
1-1 their first game at the tournament in South Africa, then
fought back from a 2-0 deficit to draw 2-2 with Slovenia.
On Wednesday, they were headed
out of the tournament before
a stoppage time winner from Donovan earned them top place in
their group with a 1-0 win over Algeria.
"We felt we had the ability to
go further. My initial
feeling is disappointment that we didn't get past this game and
continue to test ourselves," he said at a post-match news
conference.
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