Ghana v United States
Ghana victory over US advances Africans
Stephen Appiah scored on a penalty kick in the second minute of first-half injury time Thursday to give Ghana a 2-1 World Cup victory over the United States, advancing the Africans to the second round.
Ghana's World Cup debutantes also eliminated the Americans, who needed a victory and Italy triumph over the Czech Republic in another Group E match to reach the knockout rounds.
Members of the Ghana football team run over to celebrate after Ghanaian midfielder Haminu Draman (3rd L-no 23) scored during the opening round Group E World Cup football match between Ghana and the United States at Nuremberg's Franken Stadium, 22 June 2006. Ghana were leading 2-1 in the first half. AFP PHOTO / VALERY HACHE
The Italians did their part, defeating the Czechs 2-1 to win the group. That opened the door for the US team and also meant Ghana only needed a draw with the Americans to advance.
The Black Stars followed up the shocker of the tournament, a 2-0 triumph over the second-ranked Czechs, by using their speed to create opportunities and frustrate an American attack desperate for offence but unable to convert.
Ghana captain Appiah grabbed back momentum from the Americans just before half-time after Clint Dempsey had scored in the 43rd minute to equalize. Ghana's Haminu Draman opened the scoring in the 22nd minute.
US defender Oguchi Onyewu tackled Ghana forward Razak Pimpong from behind in the penalty area, the foul setting up Appiah, a former Juventus midfielder, for a scoring blast that found the net to the left of US goalkeeper Kasey Keller.
US midfielder Clint Dempsey (R) celebrates after shooting the ball past Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Kingston (L) for his team's first score during the opening round Group E World Cup football match between Ghana and the United States at Nuremberg's Franken Stadium, 22 June 2006. Ghana were leading 2-1 at half-time. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI
Needing two second-half goals for any hope of advancing, US coach Bruce Arena brought on 22-year-old forward Eddie Johnson in the 61st minute and attacking midfielder Bobby Convey in the 74th to spark offence.
Ghana's defence was equal to the challenge, though not without several players tumbling to the ground after contact to derisive whistles from US supporters.
Draman was carried off on a stretcher with an ice pack on the front of his upper right leg, leaving a 10-man Ghana to deal with the desperate US attack for several minutes until Alex Tachie-Mensah replaced him in the 80th minute.
US goalkeeper Kasey Keller (L) is caught flat-footed as Ghanaian midfielder Stephen Appiah (R) scores on a penalty kick during the opening round Group E World Cup football match between Ghana and the United States at Nuremberg's Franken Stadium, 22 June 2006. Ghana were leading 2-1 at half-time. AFP PHOTO / JANEK SKARZYNSKI
At the final whistle, most players shook hands with their US counterparts, then raced to a corner of the Frankenstadion where their supporters were in a joyous frenzy.
Dempsey netted the first US goal of the tournament off a brilliant cross from DaMarcus Beasley to energize the 2002 World Cup quarter-finalists.
Draman, who replaced yellow-card suspended midfielder Sulley Muntari, stole the ball from US captain Claudio Reyna and raced in alone on Keller from the right side, then flicked a right-footed shot past him inside the far post.
Keller, 36, is winless in four World Cups, two as a starter.
Reyna was stretchered off the field after the play but returned to the field until the 43rd minute when Ben Olsen replaced him. Reyna's left knee was treated on the sidelines.
Muntari and Asamoah Gyan, who both scored in Ghana's win over the Czechs, were both suspended for the match for accumulated yellow cards.
The same fate awaits Black Stars midfielder Michael Essien for the next match should Ghana advance. The Chelsea star drew a yellow in the fifth minute for a foul on Reyna, his second booking of the tournament.