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| Mueller's lone goal was enough for victory. Photo Credit: Action Press/Rex |
Despite losing 1-0 to Germany at a rain soaked Arena Pernambuco in Recife, the United States advanced to their second consecutive Round of 16 in team history.
By: Sunil Sunderraj
Coupled by Portugal’s 2-1 victory over Ghana and the four goal difference were the mitigating factors in Team USA advancing. Meanwhile Germany secured the top spot in Group G while the United State is the runner up.
Thomas Mueller’s four goal of the 2014 World Cup at the 55th minute in the second half proved to be the game winner. It came via a corner kick.Germany forced the ball into the box, goalkeeper Tim Howard made an initial save off a header from Benedikt Howedes. The rebound then came out to Mueller whose precise right footed blast found the bottom right corner of the net.
Early into the match Germany came out aggressively by attacking the U.S net. It sent the United States into a defensive mode of play, not being able to create scoring chances of their own.
Three minutes into the match, Bastian Schweinsteiger lofted a ball from outside of the box to Jerome Boateng who slid a low right shot that was scooped up by the U.S goalkeeper Tim Howard.
At the seven minute mark, Midfielder Lucas Podolski sprinted to the end line and fired a shot that Howard dove to make the stop. Howard was calle dupon allot in this match and at times single handedly keep Team USA in the match.
Germany controlled possession of the ball for a majority of the match. The United States had to relaly pick its spots as to when to be more aggressive and press Germany and create some opportunities for themselves to just get some shots on goal. best opportunity of the 1st half came at the 21st minute as Graham Zusi lifted a curling shot just over the top of the crossbar.
In the 32nd minute, Jermaine Jones was unable to knock down the ball off a long range pass from Michael Bradley on a breakaway attempt. Howard continued to keep the United States in the match making a save off Mesut Ozil where he was screened on the play. In addition a diving grab off the foot of Muller in the 38th minute.
Emotions got very heated in the second half as the referee handed out several yellow cards to both teams. Thankfully for both, neither got the dreaded red card and avoided having to play a man short.
Germany had an opportunity to extend their lead early into the second half off a feed from Schweinsteiger to Miroslav Klose but Klose’s header just flickered right of the goal net.
A very scary moment occurred in the second half as Alejandro Bedoya and Jermaine Jones collided in the middle of the pitch. Both players went down in a heap. Jones came off with a bloodied nose but returned to the match several minutes later.
The United States came very close to tying the match in stoppage time. Bedoya cut into the box and attempted to strike home a shot when Defender Phillip Lahm knocked the ball away, denying one of the best scoring chances the U.S. created the whole match. Both teams move onto the knockout round now and try to extend their run even longer in this World Cup.