Season › 2013-14 › News Late Brooks header is golden for USA Lyndon Lloyd , 16 June, 0comments | Jump to most recent United States 2 - 1 Ghana Tim Howard and the United States are off to a crucial winning start in the so-called "group of death" thanks to an 86th-minute header from substitute John Brooks in Natal. The Americans were clinging to Clint Dempsey's opener, scored after just 34 seconds, when Andre Ayew's strike with eight minutes to go appeared to have broken the stubborn but tiring resistance of Jurgen Klinsmann's side. Brooks rose to power home the winner from a corner, though, to gain revenge over the team that knocked the US out of both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups. The Americans were be hoping to take advantage of Germany's dismantling of Portugal earlier today — a clean sweep by the Germans of this year's "group of death" is seen as a realistic route to the second phase for the USA — and they got off to the perfect start when Dempsey slotted home off the far post before the Ghanaians had had a chance to settle. The US then dug in but were severely hampered by the loss to a hamstring injury of Jozy Altodore, then defender Matt Besler and a kick to the face for Dempsey where he appeared to sustain a broken nose but finished the game. Howard had to be alert in the face of waves of Ghana attacks and he pushed Asamoah Gyan's shot away early in the second half and helped a stunning header from the same player behind. The Americans appeared to be running out of fuel in the hot and humid conditions as the game ticked into the last minute and were hanging on until Ayew collected Gyan's backheel to smash the ball past Howard. Brooks went forward for the late corner, however, and his downward header beat Adam Kwarasey in the Ghana goal to secure a thrilling victory. World Cup Live Forum About these ads © ToffeeWeb