Ghana's WC opponent USA suffer defeat to Ukraine

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• STEPHEN OSEI,NORWAY 11 years ago

  , WE STILL NEED HARD WORKING TO FACE THEM, JUST FRIENDLY MATCH,THEY WILL PLAY HARD WHEN THEY MEET US,FOR GET

  , WE STILL NEED HARD WORKING TO FACE THEM, JUST FRIENDLY MATCH,THEY WILL PLAY HARD WHEN THEY MEET US,FOR GET

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• Avogadro 11 years ago

  "Ghana had first-choice centre-backs John Boye and Jonathan Mensah back from lengthy injuries only to lose 1-0 away to lower-ranked Montenegro in Podgorica".
  
  Ghanaweb, did you see that on yahoo sport?

  "Ghana had first-choice centre-backs John Boye and Jonathan Mensah back from lengthy injuries only to lose 1-0 away to lower-ranked Montenegro in Podgorica".
  
  Ghanaweb, did you see that on yahoo sport?

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• POW@ Brazil b3y3 huhuu hu 11 years ago

  Americans published our defeat on yahoo sports and we also reported theirs on Ghanaweb. "atika atika"

  Americans published our defeat on yahoo sports and we also reported theirs on Ghanaweb. "atika atika"

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• Vuvuzela 11 years ago

  And discipline and focus.
  
  Inattention and sluggishness aren't good in a good match.

  And discipline and focus.
  
  Inattention and sluggishness aren't good in a good match.

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• KK 11 years ago

  They lost but they played a lot better than we did. Ghana better up their tactics and player selection.

  They lost but they played a lot better than we did. Ghana better up their tactics and player selection.

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• anokwale 11 years ago

  Ghana dominated possession but the USA did not. The USA is similar in that their back line is shaky. Even more than Ghana's. At the end of the day, that will be a close game but Ghana should be able to pull it out. Ghana ...
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  Ghana dominated possession but the USA did not. The USA is similar in that their back line is shaky. Even more than Ghana's. At the end of the day, that will be a close game but Ghana should be able to pull it out. Ghana has to make sure that there are no mental lapses that lead to penalties and set piece opportunities.

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• YAA 11 years ago

  my first 11 for the team
  1.Adam Kwaresey
  2.Daniel Opare
  3.Kwadwo Asamoah thats where he plays in juventus
  4.Jerry Akaminko
  5.Isaac Vorsah
  6.Micheal Essien = Experience
  7.Kevin Prince Boateng
  8.sulley muntari =Experi ...
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  my first 11 for the team
  1.Adam Kwaresey
  2.Daniel Opare
  3.Kwadwo Asamoah thats where he plays in juventus
  4.Jerry Akaminko
  5.Isaac Vorsah
  6.Micheal Essien = Experience
  7.Kevin Prince Boateng
  8.sulley muntari =Experience
  9.Asamoah GYAN
  10.Majeed Waris
  11.Dede Ayew
  If you use this names i just mentioned in games we will surprise the world !!

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• NO YAAWA 11 years ago

  WE WILL BEAT THEM ALL.

  WE WILL BEAT THEM ALL.

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• Al Hajj A A A Rashid(OH. USA) 11 years ago

  YAA, I do like your selection however, I am reliably informed that Isaac Vorsah, is nursing an injury and may not be well before the WC commences.
  
  Secondly I would love to have Kwadwo, Asamoah move up to the midfield to he ...
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  YAA, I do like your selection however, I am reliably informed that Isaac Vorsah, is nursing an injury and may not be well before the WC commences.
  
  Secondly I would love to have Kwadwo, Asamoah move up to the midfield to help Machael Essien, and Sulley Muntari feed the attack.
  
  The problem with Ghana is we have too many midfield players and really lack good defenders.

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• Ama Buoh 11 years ago

  No reporting on the Blackstars - Montenegro match. Ghanaweb missed that because Ghanaweb was busy covering USA vs Ukraine. Deal with the problem in your own kitchen first, and worry less about the other cooks.

  No reporting on the Blackstars - Montenegro match. Ghanaweb missed that because Ghanaweb was busy covering USA vs Ukraine. Deal with the problem in your own kitchen first, and worry less about the other cooks.

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• AFRICAAAAAA 11 years ago

  They couldn't even secure a draw with a country and team beset with strife and turmoil, and yet they want to play us? Tweaaaaa! Ghana Oseyieeeeeeee!!!!

  They couldn't even secure a draw with a country and team beset with strife and turmoil, and yet they want to play us? Tweaaaaa! Ghana Oseyieeeeeeee!!!!

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• SHITOPEPPER 11 years ago

  TO BE HONEST WITH YOU UKRAINE IS FAR BETTER THAN THE NATION WE PLAYED WITH. SO WE NEED TO WORK HARD

  TO BE HONEST WITH YOU UKRAINE IS FAR BETTER THAN THE NATION WE PLAYED WITH. SO WE NEED TO WORK HARD

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• NII KELEKE 11 years ago

  IS LIBYA NOT ENGULFED WITH STRIFE AND TURMOIL, BRO?

  IS LIBYA NOT ENGULFED WITH STRIFE AND TURMOIL, BRO?

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• Amada 11 years ago

  WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE USA DEFEAT BY UKRAINE. IT WAS A TRAINING EXERCISE BEFORE THE WORLD CUP, JUST LIKE GHANA LOST TO MONTENEGRO. LET KLINSMANN NOT FOOL ANY ONE. WE MUST NEVER BE COMPLACENT, BUT RATHER GET FOCUSED.

  WE DON'T CARE ABOUT THE USA DEFEAT BY UKRAINE. IT WAS A TRAINING EXERCISE BEFORE THE WORLD CUP, JUST LIKE GHANA LOST TO MONTENEGRO. LET KLINSMANN NOT FOOL ANY ONE. WE MUST NEVER BE COMPLACENT, BUT RATHER GET FOCUSED.

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• K Mensah 11 years ago

  Below is The New York Times' BRIAN SCIARETTA's player ratings of the Ukraine vs. USA friendly.
  
  Player Ratings: Ukraine 2, U.S. 0
  By BRIAN SCIARETTA
  MARCH 5, 2014
  
  Photo
  
  Jurgen Klinsmann, the coach of the U.S ...
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  Below is The New York Times' BRIAN SCIARETTA's player ratings of the Ukraine vs. USA friendly.
  
  Player Ratings: Ukraine 2, U.S. 0
  By BRIAN SCIARETTA
  MARCH 5, 2014
  
  Photo
  
  Jurgen Klinsmann, the coach of the U.S. men's national team, did not have much to smile about in Wednesday's 2-0 loss to Ukraine in Cyprus. Credit Yorgos Karahalis/Reuters
  
  In a game that offered little comfort to Coach Jurgen Klinsmann 99 days before the start of the World Cup in Brazil, the United States lost decisively to a team from Ukraine that appeared inspired in the face of the international crisis gripping its country.
  
  Wednesday’s game was the final exhibition for the U.S. on an official FIFA international date before the start of its World Cup camp in May. So for Klinsmann, it was the last chance for him to evaluate his European-based players before choosing a preliminary World Cup roster.
  
  He could not have been encouraged because so many of the individual performances were flat. It was especially true in defense, where central defenders Oguchi Onyewu and John Brooks played poorly and left back Edgar Castillo was vulnerable.
  
  Klinsmann must hope that players based in Major League Soccer — a list which includes Michael Bradley, Landon Donovan, Graham Zusi, Matt Besler and Omar Gonzalez — can help transform the underperforming team that was display in Cyprus into a team that can challenge Ghana, Portugal and Germany (the first-round opponents for the U.S.) in Brazil. It looks like a tall task.
  
  Photo
  
  U.S. keeper Tim Howard, center, stopped the first shot by Ukraine's Marko Devic, right, but could not cover the rebound as Devic scored the game's second goal past Fabian Johnson, left. Credit Yorgos Karahalis/Reuters
  
  Starters
  
  Tim Howard It was a game where Howard was let down by his defense. He came up with the initial save on both of the plays that resulted in Ukrainian goals only to have the defense fail to stop the second attempts. He deserved much better and was the best American player among the starters. Rating: 6.5
  
  Geoff Cameron Playing at right back in his second consecutive appearance for the U.S., Cameron struggled but mostly because of the disorganization in central defense. It is not saying much, but he was the best of the starting back line. In the brief times when U.S. offense was active, Cameron was a part of it. He should have had an assist in the 54th minute but Jozy Altidore headed his cross over the bar. Rating: 5.5
  
  Oguchi Onyewu Making his first start for U.S. since last summer’s Concacaf Gold Cup, Onyewu was caught out of position on both goals. He was not effective passing out of the back and it hurt the midfield’s ability to press forward. He needed a good performance to justify a ticket to Brazil and he appears to have come up short. Rating: 3.5
  
  John Brooks Brooks is one of Klinsmann’s prized prospects and is clearly capable of more than he showed against Ukraine. He was not in sync with Onyewu in central defense and was similarly exposed on both goals. He looked nervous and his World Cup dreams will likely have to wait until 2018. Rating: 4.0
  
  Edgar Castillo It was a golden opportunity for Castillo to show he could play left back at high level but he failed to take advantage. His one-on-one defending was suspect and he offered little moving forward into the attack. Despite his regular call-ups this cycle, it is difficult to envision him going to Brazil. Rating: 3.5
  
  Jermaine Jones With the back line struggling in the first half, Jones did his best to try to settle the situation. He drifted back in the first half and helped to protect Onyewu and Brooks. He also covered a lot of ground to break up the Ukrainian attack. The effort was there but it will not bode well for U.S. in Brazil if he has to bail out his defense. Rating: 5.5
  
  Sacha Kljestan In the first half Kljestan was not able to help U.S. keep possession or create scoring chances. He improved slightly at the start of the second half before coming off but it was not a performance that helped his chances to join the team in Brazil. Rating: 4.0
  
  Alejandro Bedoya In the first half, Bedoya was the most energetic player in an otherwise overrun midfield. He hustled on defense and had a good chance in the 53rd minute with a shot from distance. He took most of the team’s set pieces and his delivery was acceptable. Rating: 5.5
  
  Clint Dempsey Dempsey returned to his former club, Fulham, on loan this winter in the hope of regaining his sharpness ahead of the World Cup. His loan was mostly a disappointment as he failed to score a goal or help the club in its relegation fight in the Premier League. Against Ukraine, Dempsey showed that he is still capable of a lot more and is not playing the way he was in 2012. He passing was off and he rarely looked dangerous on offense. He will have to turn it around quickly. Rating: 4.0
  
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  A complete eyesore performance. John Anthony Brooks showed why Jos Luhukay, his manager at Hertha Berlin, benched him in December after a...
  
  Fabian Johnson Over the past two years, Johnson has showed impressive versatility and was slotted in at left midfield against Ukraine. Like all other starters, he did not play up to his capabilities. He was invisible for long stretches of the first half but his move to the back line helped the team in the second half. Rating: 5.0
  
  Jozy Altidore In the middle of what has been a disappointing season with Sunderland, Altidore was starved for service against Ukraine and did not have an impact. He drew a few fouls and had a decent chance on a Cameron cross in the 54th minute. A forgettable match. Rating: 4.0
  
  Substitutes
  
  Aron Johannsson He was an improvement in the 30 minutes he was on the field and nearly scored in the 87th minute on an impressive volley from a Bedoya corner kick. He was composed on the ball and probably deserved the start. Rating: 6.0
  
  Brek Shea Since making the move to Europe in 2013, Shea has been inconsistent for both club and country. Surprisingly against Ukraine, Shea was one of the better American players. He looked aggressive and eager to take on defenders. Over all, it was a 30 minutes of action he can feel good about. Rating: 6.0
  
  Juan Agudelo Brought some life into U.S. attack but the Ukrainians were in command by the time he entered the game. Rating: 5.5
  
  Danny Williams The Reading-based midfielder was sharp in his 10 minutes and was an overall improvement for the team. He made a case that he should have been playing from the opening kickoff. Rating: 5.5
  
  Terrence Boyd Came on in the game’s final minutes for a brief cameo: Rating: Incomplete
  
  © 2014 The New York Times Company

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