German football fans have reason to party in the Brazilian city of Salvador as their team mauled Portugal, 4-0, in their first match at the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Billed as a clash of European heavyweights, the Germans ignored the sizzling Salvador heat to deliver a spectacular display of football, including a hat-trick from Thomas Mueller. Meanwhile, substitute John Brooks headed home an 86th-minute winner as the United States beat Ghana, 2-1, in another World Cup Group G clash. U.S. captain Clint Dempsey also scored after 32 seconds, the fifth-fastest goal in World Cup history. The Africans equalized in the 82nd minute with a clever flick from Andrew Ayew, but Brooks thumped home the winner for the U.S. just four minutes later. In another game, Iran and Nigeria labored to the first stalemate of the World Cup with a 0-0 draw that left both sides still chasing their first victory at a final since 1998. -- Mornings @ ANC, June 17, 2014.