Ghana will take on the USA for the first time on American soil as the two sides square off in a friendly at GEODIS Park in Nashville on Tuesday night.
Over the weekend, the Yanks gave up three unanswered goals, losing 3-1 to Germany, while the Black Stars suffered a 2-0 defeat against Mexico.
Match preview
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In what seemed like a prime opportunity to claim victory against one of the most successful footballing nations of all time, the United States missed their shot on Saturday.
It was the second time this year that the Americans went on to lose a fixture in which they had scored first (2-1 loss to Serbia) and only the second time in over two years that they had lost in 90 minutes after drawing first blood.
That was also the first defeat suffered since Gregg Berhalter was re-instated as national team manager and the first time they had conceded since Berhalter resumed his coaching duties.
From Berhalter's first stint as US manager up to his current one, this team have only lost consecutive games once, both against Mexico at the 2019 Gold Cup final (1-0) and in a friendly versus El Tri just a few months later (3-0).
Since being knocked out in the last 16 of the 2010 World Cup by Ghana (2-1), the Americans have won their previous four matches played against African opponents, conceding only one goal over that stretch (2-1 win over Ghana at the 2014 World Cup).
The Yanks have scored in their last 13 matches played in the United States since claiming a 0-0 draw versus Colombia in January, netting three or more times in six of those encounters.
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Ghana began the international window disappointingly, failing to register a single shot on target in their defeat against the Mexicans.
They enter this encounter having lost three of their last four matches versus CONCACAF opponents, with their only victory over that time coming against Nicaragua in September 2022 (1-0).
Their defeat versus Mexico on Saturday was the first time that Ghana had lost since Chris Hughton became the new manager in February 2023.
Under his guidance, Ghana have been slow out of the gate, scoring only one first-half goal since the former Newcastle United and Brighton boss took charge.
Before their defeat versus Mexico, the Black Stars had come back to claim a win or draw in their two previous matches in which they had conceded first, while winning their last four contests after netting in the opening half.
Before the 2014 World Cup group stage, the Ghanaians were a perfect 4-0 against the US, knocking them out of the 2006 and 2010 finals, but they have lost the last two meetings against them, both by a 2-1 score.
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Team News
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On Saturday, Gio Reyna featured for the US for the first time since the infamous feud between Berhalter and his family, Matt Turner made his team-leading 10th appearance of 2023, Folarin Balogun started for the fifth time since officially committing to the national team, while Tim Ream became just the fourth player in the modern era of this program (1990-present) to earn a cap at 36 years old, with the others being Fernando Clavijo, Thomas Dooley and Preki.
On Saturday, Cameron Carter-Vickers made his first senior team appearance since the World Cup, replacing Chris Richards in the second half, while Lennard Maloney is the only player chosen for this international window without an international cap.
Christian Pulisic notched his 27th goal for the US in their previous encounter, putting him three back of Brian McBride for fifth all-time with the men's team, while the AC Milan winger now has 41 goal contributions on the international stage, the fifth-most in Yanks history behind only Eric Wynalda (51), Jozy Altidore (56), Clint Dempsey (76) and Landon Donovan (115).
Five Ghana players who were in the opening lineup versus Liberia (3-1 win) remained in the starting 11 on Saturday, including Nicholas Opoku, Joseph Aidoo, Kingsley Schindler, Mohammed Kudus and Antoine Semenyo.
Stephan Ambrosius made his first career start with the Black Stars, having collected his first career appearance in their previous encounter, Thomas Partey featured for the first time with the national team since June and is now four appearances shy of 50, while Jordan Ayew came on as a substitute against Mexico for his 93rd cap with the senior side.
Ayew can surpass Sulley Muntari and Wilberforce Mfum for seventh in all-time goals with the national team with his next one as the Crystal Palace striker is currently on 20, one more than his father Abedi Pele but four behind his brother Andre Ayew, who was not called up for this window.
USA possible starting lineup:
Turner; Jones, Richards, Robinson, Dest; McKennie, Musah, De la Torre; Pepi, Balogun, Pulisic
Ghana possible starting lineup:
Ati-Zigi; Lamptey, Aidoo, Seidu, Mensah; Samed, Partey; Owusu, Kudus, Paintsil; J. Ayew
We say: USA 1-0 Ghana
Throughout the year, Ghana have struggled to maintain a high level of consistency as their current generation is getting older and lacking an influential player with outstanding attacking qualities, something the Americans have in abundance and something we think will tip the scales in their favour come Tuesday.
For data analysis of the most likely results, scorelines and more for this match please click here.
Top tip
Joel Lefevre
