US wins game, makes one
of fastest goals in history
By ASHLEY B. CRAIG
daily mail staff
Cheers filled a Charleston bar for the United States men's national soccer team in Monday's World Cup match against Ghana but there were also shouts in Twi, as native Ghanaians supported their team.
Three men waved flags of red, yellow and green as their team fought for the ball. Ghana's team has knocked the U.S. team out of two previous World Cup showings.
The U.S. team opened Monday evening's game at Natal in Brazil with a goal 30 seconds into the match. The goal was replayed over and over again, much to the Ghanaians' dismay.
"It was a quick goal," said Kwame Yawo, 28. "Pretty fast."
It was likely the fastest scored goal in this World Cup (so far) and the fifth fastest in the event's history, according to FIFA.
The teams are playing in Group G, nicknamed the "group of death" because of the difficulties Ghana and the U.S. will face in Germany and Portugal, FIFA's second and fourth ranked teams, respectively.
Rashid Ahmed, who came to the U.S. more than a decade ago to study computer science, was looking for a place to watch Monday's game earlier this week and found one in Sam's Uptown Cafe. Ahmed, Yawo and Kojo Dei, joined by other friends, gathered at the Capitol Street bar to form Ghana's cheering section. The men all live in the Charleston area.
"We are away from home and cheering for our country," said Dei, 37. "We love the U.S., but we want to represent our heritage."
Ahmed said most Ghanaians grow up playing soccer, a sport that is steadily gaining popularity in the U.S. He said other countries don't have as large a number of professional sports as the United States.
"There aren't many Ghanaians in West Virginia and the ones around here are mostly college students," said Ahmed, a software developer.
The men were concerned about their team because at the half the U.S. was leading by one goal. Yawo, who had been a journalist in Ghana before moving to the U.S. to study history and political science, said the U.S. team was playing defense and that Ghana had been keeping possession of the ball.
"We're down by a lone goal but we still have time to go," Yawo said.
Ghana's team scored a goal in the second half but the U.S. team followed up with another goal. The match ended 2-1 in the American team's favor.
The 13th ranked U.S. team takes on Portugal at 6 p.m. Sunday. Ghana, ranked 37th, will play Germany at 4 p.m. Saturday.
Contact writer Ashley B. Craig at ashley.craig@dailymailwv.com or 304-348-4850.
