Serbia 0 Ghana 1

Sunday, 13/06/2010

REPORT: Lee Price

A late penalty from Asamoah Gyan secured a deserved victory for Ghana, usurping a highly fancied Serbia side who had been reduced to ten men only minutes earlier.

It had looked for all the world that the game – lacking a killer final ball – would end goal-less, until Stuttgart midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic handled in his area, allowing Gyan to fire home decisively.

Two of the teams that England could face in the knockout stages, both made a bright opening to the game in a lively first half that ultimately lacked incision.

Ghana begun the brightest, with Kwadwo Asamoah coming close from a half-cleared corner while Asamoah Gyan couldn’t quite connect with a Kevin Prince-Boateng cross.

The urgency increased in the second half, with the game becoming increasingly stretched, but Serbia’s cautious set up prevented play from breaking into all out end-to-end play.

The Ghanaians, swift going forward, looked the more likely to open the scoring and were desperately unlucky not to on the hour mark.

A long throw from John Pantstil on the right picked out Gyan, who did brilliantly to climb above Nemanja Vidic and head the ball at goal. His downward header, though, struck the base of the post and went behind with the keeper stranded.

Then for the late drama. Firstly, Serbia defender Aleksandar Lukovic was sent off for two bookable offences with a quarter of an hour remaining – further encouraging the Black Stars to come forward.

Serbia, though, looked certain to take the lead when the ball fell to an unmarked Milos Krasic in the area, but he could only fire straight at Richard Kingson.

From the subsequent corner, Vidic headed just over as the White Eagles threatened to snatch an unlikely victory.

Moments later, Kuzmanovic absurdly handed the game to Ghana, stretching for a ball above his head when there was no obvious danger.

Gyan almost put the icing on the cake in injury time, but his curled effort rebounded against the post after brilliantly beating the keeper.

Goal
Gyan (83)

Shoot Man of the Match: Prince Tagoe

For reports of previous matches at the tournament please go to the International section.

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