USA 2-1 Ghana: Brooks seals win with dramatic late header

Clint Dempsey scored the fifth fastest goal in World Cup history, but it was John Brooks who grabbed the headines for the USA  - and ensured it was a stunning day for Germany in Group D.

Not only did Joachim Low's side beat Portugal 4-0 in Salvador to take a giant stride towards the last 16, but the States, managed of course by Jurgen Klinsmann, took a big step in the same direction, with victory sealed by a man who plays for Hertha Berlin.

Brooks powered home a header with just four minutes left on the clock, just when it looked as though Ghana were going to build on their late equaliser and go on to win the game.

But the Bundesliga star's crucial intervention now means it’s almost inevitable the Africans will be on the first plane home.

For the States, however, their next game against the shell-shocked Portuguese offers them a glorious chance to make it to the last 16.

And they will be dreaming of a start like the one they made in Natal.

And it was Dempsey who provided it.

The former Fulham star, who now plays in the MLS for Seattle Sounders, scored a stunning goal after only 30 seconds.

Taking the ball in his stride, he burst past John Boye with a neat piece of skill before firing his shot low and hard past Adam Kwarasey and into the far corner.

For large parts of the game after that, however, the USA were on the back foot.

Asamoah Gyan forced Tim Howard into two excellent saves, the second a brilliant fingertip effort, while the former Sunderland striker also curled a third opportunity wide of the post.

But just when the Americans thought they had weathered the storm, Ghana ensured the game would have a dramatic conclusion.

Gyan this time turned creator, with his superb back-heel creating an opening for Andre Ayew, and the Marseille star provided the finale a brilliant move deserved with a beautiful finish with the outside of his foot.

At that stage, it looked for all the world as though Ghana would claim the points, but they were floored by a sucker punch with just minutes remaining when Brooks headed home his first international goal from a corner.

That capped a dramatic day in Group G, which ended with smiles all around for the Germans.

Low's side won. Klinsmann's side won. All of which means that, by the time the two sides meet in Recife on June 26, both could already have booked their place in the knockout stage.

And imagine the look on Cristiano Ronaldo's face then…