World Cup 2014 Report: USA progress alongside Germany with thanks to calamitous Ghana

Feel the noise: Dempsey acknowledges the US fans

USA sealed progress to the Last 16 despite a 1-0 loss and with thanks to a couple of howlers from Ghana. Adam Shearwood assesses another 90 minutes of World Cup ups and downs on the Betfair market...

It had looked for a time like the building momentum behind US soccer was to come to an abrupt and unexpected end. 

The Americans, at odds of 1.271/4, had been hotly fancied by Betfair customers to progress prior to kick-off. However, Thomas Muller's guided finish in the 55th minute had given Germany the lead, while moments later a Ghanaian equaliser against Portugal placed American progress on a knife-edge.

It was Asamoah Gyan, scoring his second of the tournament, who cancelled out the reckless own goal from team mate John Boye which had given the Portuguese the lead on the half hour.

Once Ghana had their equaliser, they went in search of the goal that would have been enough to overcome pre-match odds of 8.27/1 and leapfrog the US into the second qualifying spot.

But midfielder Majid Warris set himself up for a sleepless night by missing a sitter, before another horror show - this time from goalkeeper Fatau Dauda - allowed Cristiano Ronaldo to slot home, seal a 2-1 win for Portugal and calm US fears of elimination.

USA had been available at 4.67/2 to qualify from the group pre-tournament. They have now moved from 380.0379/1 to 100.099/1 to win the whole thing. 

Muller moves himself back to the top of the goalscorers chart, tied now on four with Messi and Neymar. He is the outsider of the three for Golden Boot at odds of 5.24/1, but if he continues his knack of being in the right place at the right time to convert opportunities then he could be the one to back.

The 1-0 win for Germany was matched In-Play at an incredible 100.099/1 for 9 on the exchange. Their price for outright glory remains pretty much the same - 5.59/2 - with Betfair customers not blown away by the nature of the narrow victory over the spirited Americans.