OK, so yes, the US won their first match of Copa '14. Yes, they did so in exciting fashion, scoring the winner in the 80-something minute off a corner kick at the end of the pitch nearest our seats. Yes, the building was more electric with anticipation and energy before the match then any stadium or arena I've ever been in. Yes the place was lousy with fellow Americans (as promised), and there was a much larger number of Ghana partisans than I'd expected, too. And yes, it was awesome being there to hear the final whistle and know we got the 'W'. But...
Clint Dempsey caught everyone in the joint off guard with the goal in the game's opening minute. There was actually a split second of shock before the place went nuts when he did it. It looked like we were in for a helluva show of force by the Americans. And then Jozy went down with the hamstring strain. The wheels appeared to come off after that.
The good part, our still-newly-constituted defense held up pretty admirably, and thank God, because our midfield was nonexistent. Arguably my favorite player, Bradley, was abysmal. Ghana outplayed us for most of the game, but couldn't get the ball in the net, mostly because Tim Howard is freaking nails.
Still though, a win is a win. Now, to make Pretty Boy swallow his lips in Manaus...
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