One goal for the United States in a 2-1 FIFA World Cup elimination loss to Ghana yesterday?

One goal — not counting the own-goal by Italy — in three matches is what the U.S. has to show for its 0-2-1, two-week appearance in Germany?

Auf wiedersehen, indeed.

The shots that sailed high, wide or weren't taken at all unfortunately sum up how the bigger goal of this quadrennial competition, proving the U.S. rise in the world's game, also was missed.

You could count this as another in a lengthening string of sporting disappointments for U.S. teams on international fields, courts and gyms. Yes, the U.S. settled for a bronze medal in 2004 Olympic basketball. It got dumped in the World Baseball Championships, etc. And it has been a while since the Davis Cup, among other hardware, has resided here.

But that would be to overlook how soccer needed this one more. It would be to forget soccer is different in trying to carve a hard-earned place other sports already claim in both the international pecking order. Not to mention the hearts and minds of fans and athletes here at home.

It misses the significance of what this World Cup was to have represented for soccer in this country and how, following on the heels of an inspiring 2002 quarterfinal effort in Seoul and a returning core of players, this was supposed to be a long-awaited confirmation of the U.S.'s rise in the world's sport.

It was an opportunity to demonstrate that after many years of hoping things were coming together and how a lineup that has grown up through youth soccer and the coming of Major League Soccer was driving the breakthrough.

For all the recent disappointments in baseball, basketball, and other sports, the U.S. has already made its mark in those sports and is considered a contender in even the worst of years.

Heck, even in Olympic ice hockey there is history. The 1980 "Miracle on Ice" was just last week compared to 1930, the last time a World Cup team from these parts did anything, making the semifinal round.

Ghana and its 20 million people weren't even a country then. They were part of the Gold Coast, still 30 years away from getting independence from Great Britain and becoming a republic.

Entering this competition Ghana was the No. 48 team in the FIFA rankings. And while the rankings also had the U.S. No. 5 and should be taken with a dumptruck full of salt, yesterday's result was hardly the step the U.S. was looking for.

The 2002 1-0 quarterfinal elimination loss to eventual runner-up Germany drew praise form the victors and portended hope for what this year's World Cup might bring for the U.S.

Unfortunately, that would be one of several goals the U.S. was unable to convert on this time around.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com or 525-8044.