FIFA World Cup: Clint Dempsey Scores After 29 Seconds Against Ghana
Clint Dempsey scored the fastest goal by an American in a FIFA World Cup and also became the first American to score in three World Cups; the forward had goals against Ghana in 2006 and England four years ago as a midfielder.
Clint Dempsey scored the fastest goal by an American in World Cup history, putting the United States ahead after 29 seconds of its opener against Ghana on Monday night.
© AFP
DaMarcus Beasley, the first American to play in four World Cups, passed the ball on the left flank to Jermaine Jones, who sent it on to Dempsey.
The US captain cut between Sulley Muntari and John Boye and beat goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey with a left-footed shot from 8 yards that went in off the far post, setting off raucous cheers from the red, white and blue-clad American fans at the other end of Arena das Dunas.
The forward became the first American to score in three World Cups; Dempsey had goals against Ghana in 2006 and England four years ago as a midfielder. This was the first goal by an American forward since Brian McBride's against Mexico in 2002.
The only faster goals were by Turkey's Hakan Suker (11 seconds against South Korea in 2002), Czechoslovakia's Vaclav Masek (16 seconds against Mexico in 1962), Germany's Ernst Lehner (25 seconds against Austria in 1934) and England's Bryan Robson (27 seconds against France in 1982).