( CNN ) -- `` I believe that we will win ! '' The refrain is consistently chanted by the American Outlaws , the supporters group for the U.S. national soccer team , and it now rings truer than ever . We were n't supposed to win . But we did . The opening match of the World Cup against Ghana was a must-win for the U.S. team -- anything short of a victory , and the red , white and blue would have faced a seemingly insurmountable hill to climb . The Americans were given little chance of winning against their nemesis , Ghana . The team from Western Africa had beaten the U.S. twice before in the World Cup -- knocking it out of contention in 2010 as well as four years earlier . This time was supposed to be no different . Tough conditions . Untimely injuries . A late equalizer . Everything pointed toward the Americans wilting in the Brazilian humidity . We were n't supposed to win . But we did . Americans do n't follow the world 's script . Rising to the world 's stage from vastly different backgrounds , these Americans stayed united -- symbolic of our great nation . When adversity struck , they battled . They persevered . They won with typical American character and diversity . Monday 's victory sets the stage for a major match Sunday against Portugal -- which Germany downed 4-0 . The winner will be one step closer to the ultimate Cup . But it really confirmed to the rest of the world that U.S. football ( OK , we also call it soccer ) will not go gently into that good night . No way . In the end , two American heroes of completely different backgrounds provided the scoring punch that stunned Ghana . Clint Dempsey , born in Nacogdoches , Texas , and John Anthony Brooks , born in Berlin . Dempsey is a player we are proud to have wear the Seattle Sounders FC kit , and Brooks is an up-and-comer in the German Bundesliga -- or football league -- with Hertha BSC . Dempsey , the 31-year-old captain , is playing in his third World Cup , while Brooks , the 21-year-old newcomer , is making his competitive debut as an emergency substitute . Dempsey played the creative genius for a workmanlike U.S. team , and Brooks stood tall as a powerful 6-foot-4 defender . Their goals were reflective of their personality . Dempsey brilliantly allowed the ball to pass through his legs on his way to three wicked touches with his right foot , setting up his left peg for a drive to the far post just 29 seconds into the match . Then , loping forward on a late corner kick , Brooks rose above the Ghanaian defense to drive his header low and hard , just out of the reach of the goalkeeper in the 86th minute . As the final whistle blew , the reactions were priceless . Players born in all corners of the United States celebrated with their teammates from Iceland , Germany and Norway . German-born head coach Jurgen Klinsmann embraced his Austrian assistant coach , Andy Herzog . Some 20,000 fans who traveled to Brazil from the United States sang and danced in excitement . And tens of millions of Americans back home watched the whole scene unfold , evoking national pride for the greatest melting pot on Earth . The victory was perfectly America . Grit . Determination . Mental toughness . It was American diversity coming together for a common goal . It was a team , cobbled together over the past three years , which had a singular focus on beating Ghana . The World Cup has just begun for the Americans . And there is much work left to do . But a soccer nation back home in the United States is energized , emboldened , hopeful . With old-fashioned American character and ingenuity , the U.S. national team is poised to do great things in Brazil . Just one game into the tournament , and the country is captivated . Americans can relate to this group of soccer players , whose diversity and spirit is akin to that of their supporters . `` I believe that we will win ! '' And we will do it the American Way . You see , we were n't supposed to win . But we did . And we will . Join us on Facebook.com/CNNOpinion .
Adrian Hanauer says the U.S. team was n't supposed to beat Ghana at World Cup but did . He says victory filled with grit , determination , mental toughness -- perfectly America . The U.S. team next faces Portugal on Sunday .