The Americans were eliminated in the first round, losing to Ghana 2-1 Thursday in a game they had to win to advance to the tournament's knockout phase.

Haleiwa's Brian Ching, the first player from Hawaii to be named to a U.S. World Cup team, did not play.

With thousands of red, white and blue-clad fans cheering them on in Franken-Stadion, the Americans fell flat against a Black Stars team that was stronger and faster. Surprising Ghana advanced along with Italy from Group E.

It was a bitter ending for the United States, which carried high hopes — and a No. 5 world ranking from FIFA — onto soccer's biggest stage. Four years ago, the Americans made the quarterfinals of the World Cup.

Haminu Draman put the Africans ahead in the 22nd minute, breaking in alone on goalkeeper Kasey Keller after colliding with Claudio Reyna, who crumpled to the ground in pain.

The United States, which has never won a World Cup game in which it trailed, tied it when Clint Dempsey scored in the 43rd minute with a smashing 10-yard shot off a perfect feed from DaMarcus Beasley. But Ghana captain Stephen Appiah converted a penalty kick in the second minute of first-half injury time after American defender Oguchi Onyewu was called for a foul in the penalty area.

The United States (0-2-1) finished the tournament with one point — its first in a World Cup played in Europe, but not enough to escape the basement in Group E.

Italy 2, Czech Republic 0

HAMBURG, Germany — Italy took care of its own business this time and knocked the Czech Republic out of the World Cup.

Substitute Marco Materazzi headed in a corner kick in the 26th minute to help Italy win Group E and likely avoid a second-round matchup with Brazil.