2014 FIFA World Cup: Team USA Avenge 2006, 2010 Defeats With Late Heroics Against Ghana; Germany Demolish Portugal; Iran and Nigeria Battle To Tourney's First Draw

Three games were played on Monday as group-stage action in the FIFA World Cup continued in Brazil:

Group F:

At Curitiba:

Nigeria and Iran battled to the tournament's first draw, a 0-0 stalemate.  It was a frustrating performance for both squads, as shown here.

Getty Images photo

GROUP F STANDINGS:

1. Argentina (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
2. Iran (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
    Nigeria (GP: 1; GD: 0; PTS: 1)
4. Bosnia and Herzegovina (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)



Group G:

At Salvador:

Thomas Muller (that's him, center) delivered a hat trick (PK-12', 45'+1, 78') as Germany ran roughshod over Portugal 4-0.

Getty Images photo

At Natal:

John Brooks, who came into the game as a halftime replacement, scored the winning goal in the 86th minute (he's mobbed by happy teammates afterward as shown here) as the United States defeated their nemesis from 2006 and 2010, namely Ghana, 2-1.  Clint Dempsey opened the scoring for the Americans 34 seconds into the match, the sixth fastest goal in World Cup history.

Getty Images photo

GROUP G STANDINGS:

1. Germany (GP: 1; GD: +4; PTS: 3)
2. United States (GP: 1; GD: +1; PTS: 3)
3. Ghana (GP: 1; GD: -1; PTS: 0)
4. Portugal (GP: 1; GD: -4; PTS: 0)