NYCFC's Sean Johnson and the rest of the United States Men's National Team are rolling into the Gold Cup in winning form thanks to their 2-1 win over Ghana on a rainy Saturday afternoon in Connecticut.
For the USA, this particular match was as much about integrating new faces into the program as it was gearing up for the impending tournament. Bruce Arena went with an experimental lineup, starting two debutantes and several fringe players. The stage was set for recent additions to the USMNT program to audition for bigger roles, and for those on the outside looking in to force their way into the limelight.
Dom Dwyer repaid Bruce Arena's faith almost immediately, hammering home a volley to open the scoring in the 19th minute. Dwyer struck the ball after it ricocheted off the foot of Jorge Villafana, overpowering Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Ofori.
Ghana began pushing for an equalizer toward the end of the first half, earning a penalty which Brad Guzan, who got the starting nod over Johnson, would save.
The USMNT opened the second half on the front foot once again, doubling their lead in the 52nd minute. Kelyn Rowe, who was clever and creative in his first appearance for the Americans, won a foul on the edge of the box that would be lashed home by Kellyn Acosta. His low, curling effort once again offered Ofori no chance of a rebuttal.
Not to be outdone, Ghana's Asamoah Gyan would bury a free kick of his own, firing a strike off the crossbar and into the top corner from 25 yards out.
The match would finish 2-1, just as every match between these two sides has finished since Ghana defeated the USA in the 2006 FIFA World Cup.
Sean Johnson will be looking to earn his first minutes under Bruce Arena on July 8th, when the United States host Panama to open their group stage campaign at the Gold Cup.
