EVERTON goalkeeper Tim Howard has bemoaned the USA’s World Cup exit, claiming it was a wasted chance.

The Americans had topped Group C ahead of England in South Africa and were given backing by many pundits to make it through to at least the last four of the competition.

However in Rustenburg over the weekend, Howard and his team-mates came unstuck against last remaining African hope Ghana, losing 2-1 after extra time.

Howard said: “It was certainly a missed opportunity because we felt like we were in the game and at times we were the better team.

“But that means nothing because they put in the performance that won the game.

“We were on the front foot, I felt like we were on the ascendency when we got the goal.

"We got a few chances and really pinned them back in the second half which we knew we would. It was just a bridge too far for us. We can’t keep producing these magical moments because you just run out of gas.”