World Cup Round Up: Match Day 5

I'll try and keep todays round up a bit shorter than the other ones, cause I'm afraid I seem to have injured my hand with the frantic pace with which I type. So with that in mind, lets get started.

I'd just about managed to get home from work in time to watch Germany v Portugal, the opening game in Group G, only missing the one goal: Thomas Müller's 12th minute penalty, after Mario Götze was dragged down in the box.

Germany doubled their lead twenty minutes later, with an unstoppable header from Matts Hummels.

The Borussia Dortmund centre back managed to get the run on the Portugese defenders and leaped highest, to power his header past Rui Patricio. Unfortunately Hummels would later leave the field with an injury, and we can all only hope it's nothing too serious.

Portugal sealed their fate when everybody's favourite dick head, Pepe, earned himself a needless red card. Granted, Müller didn't exactly shower himself in glory with his theatrics, but Pepe just couldn't help himself and had to go in for one more go. He was immediately sent off for head butting Müller.

Unsurprisingly, the game then turned into a training match for Germany, dominating the possession and adding a third before the half time whistle blew. It was Müller who scored his second goal of the game, his touch, from Toni Kroos' clipped pass, aided him in holding off Bruno Alves, and his shot on the swivel found the back of the net, despite Patricio getting a hand to it.

The game continued in a similar vein into the first half, Götze slipping in Mesut Özil, but his shot was saved by Patricio, and Müller couldn't direct the rebound on target.

But the Bayern München front man got his hat trick - the first of the tournament - on the 78th minute, when André Shürrle's driven cross was palmed by Patricio into the feet of Müller, who prodded the ball home to put himself on the top of the goal scoring chart.

Portugal were completely uninspired, epitomised when Cristiano Ronaldo, managed to hit a Philip Lahm sized wall from a free kick. However, the current Ballon d'Or winner did do better with a free kick late on, but Manuel Neuer was on hand to keep his clean sheet intact.

An emphatic early win for the Germans, who were well in control of the game before Pepe's red card, demonstrating why they are so many people's favourites to win.

Full Time: Germany 4-0 Portugal

MOTM: Thomas Müller

Well, this next one was a bit of a stinker eh? The first draw and the first game to have no goals in. Looks like my decision to watch the Game of Thrones finale again was the correct one.

I won't spend much time here, I'd just like to say it was nice to see former Wanderer, Andranik, rock up for Iran, I didn't know he was even still going.

From the highlights it looked as if Carlos Qeiroz, the Iran manager, set out his side perfectly to deal with Nigeria's raw pace on the counter, so kudos to them.

Oh, and Iran have a player named Pooladi, hehe

Full Time: Iran 0-0 Nigeria

MOTM: Tyrion Lannister

PRAISE YOU CLINT DEMPSEY. The American striker must have sensed our disappointment after the bore-fest which was the last game, and within 31 seconds he put the USA ahead, with a stunning goal.

He bursted into the box, danced past one tackle, held off another then dragged a left footed show in off the post.

USA's bright start continued, with Jozy Altidore, he controlled a low cross ten yards out, but his effort was blocked by John Boye. USA's control of the game soon diminished however, when striker Altidore, had to leave the pitch after pulling his ham string, thrusting his World Cup into doubt. For the rest of the game the USA would miss Altidore's physical presence at the top of the field.

USA's impressive centre back Matt Besler, was also forced off through injury at half time, this coupled with Ghana's desperation for an equaliser, equalled lots of shots raining down on Tim Howard, in the United States' goal. But despite Ghana's overwhelming dominance in the second half, they only managed three shots on target all game, mainly thanks to the impressive work rate of Jermaine Jones and Kyle Beckerman, who did well in blocking off countless Ghanaian attacks.

Former Sunderland striker Asamoah Gyan, forced Howard into an important save, leaping extraudinarly well to meet a cross from eighteen yards out, but Howard tipped the header past the post.

Ghana did find the equaliser their dominance warranted in 84th minute: the impressive, just not in this instance, right Fabian Johnson, left a criminally large sized gap which Gyan took advantage of, back heeling the ball into the path of Andre Ayew, who's powerful out-side-of-the-boot shot, flew past Howard.

It looked as if there would only be one winner from that point, but we were all wrong.

Less than two minutes after his bad positioning cost his team a goal, Johnson, was at the other end of the pitch again, forcing a corner for the States. Graham Zusi, swung in the corner, which was met by the head of 21 year old John Brooks, who headed into the ground and the ball bounced into the goal.

Which resulted in one of the most heartwarming moments we've seen so far this World Cup, a player who genuinely humbled, shocked, and overwhelmed with joy at scoring for his country.

USA managed to hold on for the win, much to mine, and many others peoples delight. With Portugal's capsulation earlier, USA have a real chance of going through this group now, best of luck to 'em.

Full Time: Ghana 1-2 USA

82 - Ayew  1 - Dempsey

86 - Brooks

MOTM: Jermaine Jones

World Cup Player Pun of the Day:

Manuel Neauer

Automatic Neauer