The Associated Press RUSTENBURG, South Africa – The memories of their previous meeting with Ghana still haunts them. Landon Donovan , Carlos Bocanegra, DaMarcus Beasley, Steve Cherundolo , Clint Dempsey and Oguchi Onyewu – they were there, on the field in Germany four years ago when the U.S. lost, 2-1, to the West African nation.
They recall the sinking feeling of having been eliminated from the 2006 World Cup. They remember the exasperation of a penalty kick awarded to Ghana that proved to be the difference in the match.
"An injustice," said Onyewu, who was judged to have fouled Razak Pimpong while going for a header. "I still to this day don't know where the foul came from."
Sure enough, Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah converted from the spot to clinch the victory.
"That was not a good day – for me or the team," United States midfielder Landon Donovan said. "What I remember most personally was my tentativeness and the immediate feeling afterward of the finality of it, and how disappointing that was."
Now he and his teammates will have the opportunity to deliver some payback when the teams clash today in a Round of 16 match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. The Americans enter the game with renewed spirit after Donovan scored a goal in extra time to defeat Algeria, 1-0, Wednesday and push the team away from the brink of elimination.
To progress to the quarterfinals – a stage they haven't reached since 2002 – the Americans must win their second consecutive World Cup match. History has proved that isn't an easy task. They haven't accomplished the feat since 1930.
Of course, the Americans have already broken one 80-year hex in South Africa – winning their group. And the 2009 Confederations Cup finalists are starting to imagine appearing in their first World Cup final.
"If we continue to build on the successes so far, we can go to the end," United States coach Bob Bradley said.
"We have shown an ability to move the ball quickly and intelligently. We have some individuals who have made the special plays you need to win championships."
Bradley, though, is wary of the athletic ability of Ghana, which was denied a fifth African title this year by Egypt.
"They are dangerous because they have individual players who you think they are going to pass and at the last second they dribble," Bradley said. "You are not always sure what they are going to do. They have unpredictability."
They also have a continent's support on their side. With five other African representatives having been eliminated, Ghana is the only remaining survivor and can expect to be backed by Africa's 1 billion inhabitants.
"We want to do it for Africa," Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari said. "We want to break records."
Ghana, though, has only scored two goals in South Africa – both penalties by Asamoah Gyan – in beating Serbia, 1-0, and holding Australia to a 1-1 draw. The Black Stars advanced despite losing their last Group D match, 1-0, to Germany.
Now, Ghana once again stands in the way of the Americans, who are hoping to make history at this tournament.
"We try hard not to get ahead of ourselves," Bradley said. "But at the same time, I think everybody has this idea that if everybody gives their best effort, if everybody puts everything they have into it, if things go our way, then we can go far."
They recall the sinking feeling of having been eliminated from the 2006 World Cup. They remember the exasperation of a penalty kick awarded to Ghana that proved to be the difference in the match.
"An injustice," said Onyewu, who was judged to have fouled Razak Pimpong while going for a header. "I still to this day don't know where the foul came from."
Sure enough, Ghana midfielder Stephen Appiah converted from the spot to clinch the victory.
"That was not a good day – for me or the team," United States midfielder Landon Donovan said. "What I remember most personally was my tentativeness and the immediate feeling afterward of the finality of it, and how disappointing that was."
Now he and his teammates will have the opportunity to deliver some payback when the teams clash today in a Round of 16 match at Royal Bafokeng Stadium in Rustenburg. The Americans enter the game with renewed spirit after Donovan scored a goal in extra time to defeat Algeria, 1-0, Wednesday and push the team away from the brink of elimination.
To progress to the quarterfinals – a stage they haven't reached since 2002 – the Americans must win their second consecutive World Cup match. History has proved that isn't an easy task. They haven't accomplished the feat since 1930.
Of course, the Americans have already broken one 80-year hex in South Africa – winning their group. And the 2009 Confederations Cup finalists are starting to imagine appearing in their first World Cup final.
"If we continue to build on the successes so far, we can go to the end," United States coach Bob Bradley said.
"We have shown an ability to move the ball quickly and intelligently. We have some individuals who have made the special plays you need to win championships."
Bradley, though, is wary of the athletic ability of Ghana, which was denied a fifth African title this year by Egypt.
"They are dangerous because they have individual players who you think they are going to pass and at the last second they dribble," Bradley said. "You are not always sure what they are going to do. They have unpredictability."
They also have a continent's support on their side. With five other African representatives having been eliminated, Ghana is the only remaining survivor and can expect to be backed by Africa's 1 billion inhabitants.
"We want to do it for Africa," Ghana midfielder Sulley Muntari said. "We want to break records."
Ghana, though, has only scored two goals in South Africa – both penalties by Asamoah Gyan – in beating Serbia, 1-0, and holding Australia to a 1-1 draw. The Black Stars advanced despite losing their last Group D match, 1-0, to Germany.
Now, Ghana once again stands in the way of the Americans, who are hoping to make history at this tournament.
"We try hard not to get ahead of ourselves," Bradley said. "But at the same time, I think everybody has this idea that if everybody gives their best effort, if everybody puts everything they have into it, if things go our way, then we can go far."
