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USA v. Ghana 1-2 a.e.t. (1-1, 0-1)<br />
Ghana were very effi cient in the fi rst half and Kevin-Prince<br />
Boateng gave them a fully deserved lead in the 23rd minute.<br />
For the third time in the tournament, the Americans were<br />
faced with <strong>com</strong>ing back from behind. They upped their<br />
game in the second half and their efforts were rewarded<br />
around the hour mark when Donovan (10) converted a clear<br />
penalty. Both teams then had chances to win the game in<br />
normal time but were unable to do so. Ghana found new<br />
energy reserves in extra time, and Gyan (3) quickly scored<br />
what proved to be the winning goal as the USA did not have<br />
it in them to <strong>com</strong>e from behind once again.<br />
Germany v. England 4-1 (2-1)<br />
Goals from Klose (11) and Podolski (10) gave Germany a<br />
two-goal cushion after just over half an hour of this clash of<br />
the titans. England had been outplayed until that point, but<br />
they <strong>com</strong>posed themselves and reduced the arrears through<br />
Upson (15) just fi ve minutes after Podolski’s strike. Shortly<br />
after, they thought they had equalised but the goal was<br />
not given. The minutes leading up to these two incidents<br />
and the period immediately thereafter were England’s best<br />
spell in the game. As the second half got under way, they<br />
<strong>2010</strong> <strong>FIFA</strong> World Cup South Africa<br />
continued to push forward and most of the play took place<br />
in Germany’s half of the pitch, but apart from a shot from<br />
Lampard (8) that struck the bar, England failed to threaten<br />
the German goal. Germany then produced two classic<br />
counter-attacks to seal the game, with Müller (13) scoring<br />
both goals.<br />
Argentina v. Mexico 3-1 (2-0)<br />
Just as they had in 2006, Argentina overcame Mexico in<br />
the round of 16. Four years earlier extra time had been<br />
required to separate the two teams, but this time the match<br />
was settled by half time. After starting the match well and<br />
twice going close to opening the scoring, including with<br />
a shot that hit the crossbar, the Mexicans were somewhat<br />
unfortunate to fall behind after half an hour, Tévez (11)<br />
heading home from Messi’s (10) pass. Just fi ve minutes later,<br />
Osorio (5), who was the last man, passed the ball straight<br />
to Higuaín (9), who gratefully seized the chance to score his<br />
fourth goal of the tournament. The highlight of the second<br />
half was Tévez’s stunning long-range strike into the top right<br />
corner of the goal to give Argentina a 3-0 lead. Mexico’s<br />
consolation goal came in the 71st minute through Hernández<br />
(14), with Argentina having taken their foot off the pedal.<br />
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