Germany win, US also through
June 26, 2014
The torrential rain in Recife dampened Thursday's match between the US and Germany. Neither side really found their stride, with the US seeking to counter and Germany struggling to penetrate the final third.
Graham Zusi had the best early chance of the match, but curled a right-footed shot just over Manuel Neuer's crossbar. It was the closest Jürgen Klinsmann's side came to hitting the target all game. Although Germany captain Philipp Lahm was called into action in second-half stoppage time to block a dangerous shot from Alejandro Bedoya.
Germany, even with old favorites Lukas Podolski and Bastian Schweinsteiger returning to the starting lineup for Mario Götze and Sami Khedira, found their chances similarly at a premium. Mesut Özil had the best opportunity of the opening period from close in; Tim Howard dealt with it well.
Klose in at the break
Miroslav Klose replaced Podolski at half time, but will have to wait longer for historic World Cup goal number 16, which would put him ahead of Brazil's Ronaldo in the all-time scoring charts.
Instead, it was Germany's young pretender to Ronaldo's crown, Thomas Müller, who picked up his fourth goal in Brazil to decide the game. Tim Howard was exceptional in stopping a Per Mertesacker header from a corner, but the ball fell to Müller just outside the area, and he calmly curled it into the far corner. Müller now has nine World Cup goals in as many matches; the 24-year-old has overtaken Diego Maradona in the all-time scoring charts.
Save for the late scare averted by Lahm in the area, Germany largely controlled the latter phases of the game, but without mustering the tempo that was visible against Ghana and Portugal.
Portugal win and go home, Gyan makes history
In the parallel match in Group G, Portugal and Ghana shared only slim hopes of reaching the last 16. The Portuguese, facing the steeper mountain of the two, took the early initiative. Ghana's John Boye unfortunately redirected a Portuguese cross into his own goal mid-way through the first period.
Asamoah Gyan struck back in the second period, scoring his second in Brazil and his sixth at World Cups. That's the most of any African player in history, eclipsing the previous record of five set by Roger Milla of Cameroon.
World Player of the Year Cristiano Ronaldo restored Portugal's lead late on, but to no avail. The Portuguese would have needed a four-goal winning margin, not 2-1, in order to progress on goal difference at the US' expense.
The Black Stars were playing in a touch of turmoil, after key players Kevin-Prince Boateng and Sulley Muntari were sent home ahead of the game. The football association accused Boateng of verbally abusing coach Kwesi Appiah, and said Muntari had attacked an association official. Rumors of severe unrest within the Ghana squad were prevalent even after the opening match against the US, when Boateng voiced his displeasure at being left out of the first team.