USA falls to Germany in group finale, advances to Round of 16 despite loss

Germany beats U.S. 1-0 but both go through.

United States' Matt Besler walks past as Germany's
Thomas Mueller, third from right, celebrates scoring
the opening goal during the group G World Cup soccer
match between the USA and Germany at the
Arena Pernambuco in Recife, Brazil, Thursday, June 26, 2014.

A 55th minute Thomas Mueller goal gave Germany a 1-0 win over the United States on Thursday but the result allowed both teams to progress to the second round of the World Cup.

Germany top Group G and will face the runner-up in Group H while the United States finish second and will face Group H's winner. Portugal who beat Ghana 2-1 are eliminated with the Africans.

The Germans dominated the game with Juergen Klinsmann's team, with their backs againt the wall, creating very few chances.

The breakthrough came when Tim Howard parried out a Per Mertesacker header but Mueller collected the loose ball on the edge of the area and superbly side-footed into the bottom corner.