Team USA's Clint Dempsey Scores 5th-Fastest Goal in World Cup History

USA forward Clint Dempsey scored the fifth-fastest goal in World Cup history Monday against Ghana, finding the back of the net only 30 seconds after kickoff, per ESPN Stats & Info.

There were numerous corrections to the timing of Dempsey's goal, but FIFA announced Tuesday that the official time was 30 seconds.

The earliest goal scored in World Cup history came back in 2002, when Turkey's Hakan Sukur scored 11 seconds into a third-place match against South Korea. Incredibly, he was able to accomplish the feat even though South Korea kicked off to open the match. The Turks would go on to defeat the 2002 co-hosts by a score of 3-2, capping the greatest World Cup run in either nation's history.

Dempsey's goal was a huge score for the Americans on Monday, as they lost striker Jozy Altidore to a hamstring injury in the 20th minute. They held onto the lead for 81 minutes until Ghana forward Andre Ayew netted the equalizer.

All was not lost for the USA, however, as substitute defender John Brooks scored the match-winner with a header in the 86th minute to give the Americans a revenge win against the nation that had eliminated them from the two previous World Cups.