The United States recorded a stunning 4-0 victory over Ghana in an international friendly held in Tennessee, marking their third consecutive win over the Black Stars.
The American team delivered an exceptional first-half performance, with Dortmund midfielder Giovanni Reyna scoring a brace, former Chelsea star Christian Pulisic converting a penalty, and Monaco forward Folarin Balogun also finding the net at the Geodis Park.
The damage was done in the first 45 minutes of the game, and Ghana couldn’t recover, succumbing to their second defeat in the October international window. The Black Stars had previously suffered a 2-0 defeat in North Carolina to Mexico. Coach Chris Hughton had admitted their defensive issues in the Mexico game and vowed not to repeat those errors against the USA. However, their defending was even worse on Tuesday night, and the USA capitalised on their poor performance.
This loss marks Ghana’s third consecutive defeat to the USA, after winning the first two meetings in 2006 and 2010, both at the World Cup. The USA exacted their revenge at the 2014 World Cup and have since had the upper hand whenever the two teams have faced off.
Hughton made changes to the team that lost to Mexico, including replacing Lawrence Ati-Zigi in goal with Belgium-based goalkeeper Abdul Nurudeen. Despite conceding four goals, Nurudeen was arguably Ghana’s best player in the first half.
The likes of Mohammed Kudus, Thomas Partey, Jordan Ayew, and Inaki Williams all started the game but were kept silent by the USA. Williams, in particular, went off in disappointment after 75 minutes, as his goalless streak with Ghana extended to 11 games.
The Black Stars will be back in action in November with crucial matches against Madagascar and Comoros as they begin their campaign in the 2026 World Cup qualifiers. Following this, they will turn their attention to the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations tournament, set to kick off in January 2024. The four-time African champions are drawn in a group alongside Egypt, Cape Verde, and Mozambique.
