re: Scoring in the first minute couldn't have been better for the sport.

quote:

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It kept people interested because they knew there was the possibility of another goal.

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Why? How does basically starting a game 1-0 make people think there will be a greater possibility of another goal? If anything, there is LESS a chance of another goal.

quote:

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Had it been 0-0 into the 81st minute, I'd wager the in-game TV ratings would have dropped by halftime.

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Maybe so. But I can just as easily see people having the mindset of: Well yea we got that early goal, but it's been 45 minutes so far and there has been nothing since. I don't know if I want to keep watching. We will probably win 1-0.

Don't get me wrong, I think this game helped soccer for the US due to the game as a whole:

-opening game of the world cup
-hyped tremendously
-new faces on the team, no Landon, etc.
-early score
-losing the lead late and showing the ability to come back at the end and win
-big "rival" in Ghana
-winning a basically must-win game

So yes it helped, but I don't think it was simply because of the early goal.