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| (Photo credit: myjoyonline.com) |
The United States of America (USA) humiliated the Ghanaian national football team, the Black Stars, in their second friendlies of the October international window. The Black Stars gave a laughable first-half performance in the game, which allowed the Americans to score four goals without answering in the first 40 minutes.
The USA's Giovanni Reyna emerged as a key player, contributing greatly to his team's victory by securing a brace. In the 10th minute, Reyna took advantage of poor defensive play from the Black Stars and put the USA in the lead. The Americans quickly doubled their advantage in the 19th minute, with AC Milan forward Christian Pulisic converting a penalty after Timothy Weah was fouled in the box.
The third goal followed soon after, with Weah outsmarting debutant Jerome Opoku and subsequently assisting Folarin Balogun, who extended the USA's lead to three goals. Ghana was fortunate not to concede another goal in the 30th minute, as Balogun's header from close range landed safely in the hands of goalkeeper Abdul Manaf Nurudeen. Nurudeen once again showcased his skills five minutes later, denying Pulisic from adding to his tally on the day.
However, there was no stopping Reyna's dominance. In the 40th minute, he scored his second goal of the game, sealing the USA's fourth goal. A well-executed free kick was decisive in ensuring another successful finish for the Borussia Dortmund player. Ghana's only shot on target during the October international break came from Mohammed Kudus, who forced an excellent save from USA goalkeeper Matt Turner just a minute after the fourth goal.
In the second half, both teams displayed little intent to attack, resulting in a goalless period. The game concluded with the USA emerging victorious with the four-goal advantage obtained in the first half.
It's worth noting that Ghana made several changes to the starting lineup, with Kingsley Schindler replacing Gideon Mensah. On the other hand, the USA remained resolute in their defensive approach, maintaining a strong defensive line throughout the match.
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| (Photo credit: myjoyonline.com) |
This defeat marks a disappointing end to the international break for Ghana, having already suffered a 0-2 loss to Mexico over the weekend. The defeat also signifies a setback for head coach Chris Hughton, who now faces consecutive losses after an unbeaten record in his first five games in charge.
Looking ahead, the Black Stars will regroup next month as they embark on the qualifiers for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. Additionally, they will travel to Ivory Coast in January for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.
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