Muller stars in rout against Portugal
Germany made a perfect start to their World Cup campaign, as three goals from Thomas Muller saw them ease to a 4-0 victory over 10-man Portugal in their opening match in Group G.
The Germans were two ahead with a little over a half hour played: After Gotze had seen his shot deflected wide, Mats Hummels rose high to power the ensuing Toni Kroos corner into the back of the net.
Portugal's hopes of salvaging a result receded further in the minutes that followed when Pepe was dismissed for violent conduct, having thrown an arm at Muller before stooping to clash heads with his opponent.
Germany then tightened their grip when Muller took advantage of a Bruno Alves error in defence to make it 3-0 just before the break.
Portugal's 10 men struggled to muster a response in the second half, as Cristiano Ronaldo, whose fitness had been cause for concern in the buildup to the game, was forced to play the full 90 minutes, with injuries to Hugo Almeida and Fabio Coentrao leading Paulo Bento to use all three substitutes by the 65th minute.
All hope was extinguished soon afterward, as Muller was able to complete his hat trick with a simple finish after Andre Schurrle's effort was parried into his path.
Nigeria held 0-0 by Iran in World Cup's first draw
Nigeria and Iran delivered the first draw of the World Cup on Monday as they ground out a scrappy 0-0 stalemate in their opening match in Group F.
The draw at the Arena da Baixada in the southern Brazilian city of Curitiba followed 12 mostly high scoring and attacking games.
After a first half in which Nigeria failed to capitalize on its dominance, chances were few and far between in the second.
Seattle is Soccer City, USA
As the USA is set to open its World Cup play today against Ghana, passionate soccer communities thrive in big, diverse cities such as Chicago, Dallas, Miami, New York and Washington.
But based on interviews, TV ratings, attendance and the landscape of youth, adult and professional teams, USA TODAY Sports came up with three cities that stood out for their atmosphere, participation and long ties to the game’s development here.
Finding the best city to watch live soccer begins in downtown’s Pioneer Square. Thousands of emerald and green scarves are held outstretched overhead.
“Once you go to a game in Seattle — you could be in London, you could be in Germany — the environment here just blows you away,” said Ted Smith, co-host of The Men’s Room on 99.9 FM KISW in Seattle.
Passionate crowds give the Sounders a home-field advantage. The team broke the MLS attendance record for the fifth consecutive season in October, averaging 44,038.
The fastest goal in the team's World Cup history looked like it would go unrewarded, but thanks to late heroics from a halftime substitute, the United States has its first opening game victory since 2002.
Heading home a Graham Zusi corner in the 86th minute, 21-year-old John Brooks gave the U.S. a 2-1 win over the Black Stars, exorcising some lingering demons in the process.
With the first attacking movement of the game, the U.S. were on the board. Pressuring the Ghanaian defense into an early turnover, the U.S.’s quick throw-in from the left gave captain Clint Dempsey a chance to go one-on-one against central defender John Boye.
Leaning left before cutting right, Dempsey moved in on goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey, who was left to kick in vain at a left-footed shot that found the far corner. After 34 seconds, with the sixth-fastest goal in World Cup history, the U.S. was up, 1-0.
Along the way, however, the U.S. lost starting striker Jozy Altidore to injury, with the Sunderland forward replaced by Aron Johannsson after going down with a left hamstring injury in the 21st minute.
In the middle of the half, a leg to the face of Dempsey from Ghanaian defender Jonathan Mensah left the team’s captain with a bloody nose, while another hamstring problem, this time afflicting defender Matt Besler, saw Brooks come on at halftime. By the 46th minute, Jürgen Klinsmann had used two of his substitutions.
Ghana left to probe the edges to the U.S. defense and the effects of Besler’s loss were clear. The U.S. defense, particularly after the introduction of Ghana’s Kevin-Prince Boateng, had lost control.
In the 82nd minute, Ghana’s work paid off when Gyan dragged Cameron away from goal to create a chance for Ayew. Laying the ball off for the Marseille attacker, Gyan created space between the U.S. center backs for the one-time shot, with Howard beat inside his right post for the late equalizer.
Four minutes later, the U.S. had restored its lead, with two substitutes delivering victory in the sauna of Natal. Off a corner from the right, Graham Zusi’s out-swinging ball found Brooks at the edge of the six-yard box, with the Hertha Berlin defender heading down and into the Ghanaian goal to deliver full points.
When the ball reached the back of Kwarasey’s net, the fight left the Ghanaians. Lifted to its crest four minutes earlier, the team that’d vanquished the Americans in Nuremberg and Rustenburg had seen the tables turn. A nemesis has been fallen, and in the process, the U.S. may have laid the groundwork to improve on its 2006 and 2010 results.
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