U.S. Defeats Ghana In World Cup; Baltimore Celebrates
BALTIMORE (WJZ) -- Victory on the world stage! After their coach said they couldn't do it, the USA rose to the challenge and knocked out Ghana in their first World Cup match. Tied at 1-1, the game-winning goal came from John Brooks, a substitute, who headed a corner kick. Players rushed the field to celebrate the win against the team who had beaten them twice before.
Christie Ileto watched the game with fans, who were watching it all unfold.
Team USA scored hard, fast and early against Ghana.
"We didn't even know what was happening. All of a sudden we're seeing our national anthem, and then we score," said Holly Ziegler.
But it's the late winning goal that turned Power Plant Live! alive Monday night.
And for fans rooting for Ghana, the score didn't dampen their team spirit.
If you think the World Cup fever is intense here in Baltimore, think again. In 2010, more than three billion people around the world watched the World Cup and almost 95 million in the U.S.--that's nearly a third of the population. This year, 28 percent of Americans say they'll be watching this month, including American astronauts hundreds of miles above the earth. They, too, are joining in the fun.
"World Cup in general brings people from all over down here," said Lucky's Tavern General Manager Nathan Hayes.
Back in Baltimore, area restaurants and bars say they're seeing boosts in foot traffic and bigger business for their bottom lines.
"A couple hundred extra are coming down just to see the games here," said Lily Lee.
And with a Team USA win already, the celebrations in Baltimore will only continue.
Ghana beat the U.S. in both the 2006 and 2010 World Cups.
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