It took only 29 seconds for Clint Dempsey to put his stamp on the US national team's World Cup campaign, as the Seattle Sounders forward scored the fifth-fastest goal in World Cup history.
Just seconds after the kick off, Dempsey ran onto a flicked pass from Jermaine Jones, pulled a stepover, and cut inside past Ghanaian defender John Boye. Suddenly free in the box, he slotted a left-footed shot past goalkeeper Adam Kwarasey and in off the right post to give the Americans a 1-0 lead.
Only four other players have scored faster goals in the World Cup. Turkey's Hakan Sukur scored in 11 seconds against South Korea in 2002. Czechoslovakia's Vaclav Masek scored in 16 seconds against Mexico in 1962. Germany's Ernst Lehner needed only 25 seconds in 1934 against Austria. And Bryan Robson struck against France in 27 seconds in 1982.
