Sports Mole previews Wednesday’s friendly between the USA and Ghana, including predictions, team news and possible lineups.
Ghana will undertake it USA for the first time on American soil as the two sides meet in a friendly at GEODIS Park in Nashville on Tuesday night.
At the weekend, the Yanks conceded three unanswered goals, losing 3-1 to Germany, while the Black Stars suffered a 2-0 loss to Mexico.
Match preview
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In what looked like a great opportunity to claim victory against one of the most successful soccer nations of all time, the United States missed their shot on Saturday.
It was the second time this year that the Americans had lost a game in which they had scored first (a 2-1 loss to Serbia) and only the second time in over two years that they had lost in 90 minutes after the first blood was drawn. .
This was also the first defeat he suffered since then Greg Burhalter he returned as coach of the national team and it was the first time they had conceded since Berhalter took over coaching duties again.
From Berhalter’s first stint as USA coach to his current one, this team has only lost back-to-back games once, both to Mexico in the 2019 Gold Cup final (1-0) and in a friendly against El Three just a few months later (3 -0).
Since being eliminated in the round of 16 of the 2010 World Cup by Ghana (2-1), the Americans have won their previous four matches against African opponents, conceding just one goal in that stretch (2-1 over Ghana in World Cup 2014).
The Yanks have scored in their last 13 games played in the United States since earning a 0-0 draw against Colombia in January, scoring three or more times in six of those encounters.
Ghana got off to a disappointing start to the international window, failing to register a single shot on target in their loss to the Mexicans.
They come into this clash having lost three of their last four matches against CONCACAF opposition, with their only win in that period coming against Nicaragua in September 2022 (1-0).
Their loss to Mexico on Saturday was the first time Ghana have lost since then Chris Hughton became the new coach in February 2023.
Under his guidance, Ghana have been slow out of the gate, managing just one first-half goal since taking over from the former Newcastle United and Brighton boss.
Prior to their loss to Mexico, the Black Stars had come back to claim a win or draw in their previous two matches in which they had conceded first, while winning their last four after scoring in the first half.
Ahead of the 2014 World Cup group stage, the Ghanaians were a perfect 4-0 against the USA, knocking them out of the 2006 and 2010 finals, but have lost their last two meetings against them, both by 2 -1.
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Team news
On Saturday, Gio Reyna appeared for USA for the first time since the infamous feud between Berhalter and his family, Matt Turner made his club-leading 10th appearance in 2023, Folarin Balogun started for the fifth time since officially committing to the national team, while Tim Reem became just the fourth player in this program’s modern era (1990-present) to earn a cap at age 36, the others being Fernando Clavijo, Thomas Dooley and Preki.
On Saturday, Cameron Carter-Vickers made his first senior appearance after the World Cup, coming on as a substitute Chris Richards in the second half, while Leonard Maloney he is the only player selected for this international window without an international cap.
Christian Pulisic scored his 27th goal for the USA in their previous meeting, putting them three behind Brian McBride for fifth all-time with the men’s team, while the AC Milan winger now has 41 international goal contributions, fifth most in Yanks history behind only Eric Wynalda (51), Jozy Altidore (56), Clint Dempsey (76) and Landon Donovan (115).
Five Ghanaian players who were in the starting line-up against Liberia (3-1 win) remained in the starting XI on Saturday, including Nicholas Opoku, Joseph Aidoo, Kingsley Schindler, Muhammad Qudous and Antoine Semeneu.
Stefanos Ambrosios made his first career appearance with the Black Stars, having collected his first career appearance in their previous meeting, Thomas Partey made his first appearance for the national team since June and now has four caps of less than 50, while Jordan Ayu came on as a substitute against Mexico for his 93rd senior cap.
Ayew can overcome Sulley Muntari and Wilberforce Mfum for seventh all-time national team goals with his next as the Crystal Palace striker is currently on 20, one more than his father Abedi Pele but four behind his brother Andre Ayewwhich was not called for this window.
Possible lineup for USA:
Turner; Jones, Richards, Robinson, Dest; McKennie, Musah, De la Torre; Pepi, Balogun, Pulisic
Ghana’s probable starting line-up:
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 lacks an impact player with great attacking qualities, something the Americans have in abundance and something we believe will turn tip the scales in their favor on Tuesday. .
For data analysis of the most likely results, scores and more for this match, click here.
Top tip
Our expert tipster partners at Sporita.com predict under 3.5 goals in this match. Click here to find out what else they have in store for this game and more of their tried and tested football tips.Under 3.5:data