Ghana got the first victory for an African nation at the World Cup with a 1–0 victory over Serbia in Sunday’s first Group D encounter. The match was played at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria.
It was a game of exasperation and frustration for both teams with aspirations for the round of 16, until Asamoah Gyan converted a penalty in the 84th minute after the referee and his assistant correctly spotted a handball by Serbia’s Zdravko Kuzmanovic. As in the Algeria–Slovenia match earlier in the day, it was a case of a player stupidly sticking his arm out to play a ball that was way over his head.
Just five minutes prior to the penalty goal, Ghana’s Richard Kingson made the save of the match off Milos Krasic. After some sloppy Ghanaian defending Krasic had a point blank shot from about 15 yards out but Kingson palmed it safely over the bar.
Serbia’s Manchester United stalwart Nemanja Vidic followed up the ensuing corner kick with a header that went just over the bar. Serbia had been reduced to 10 men after central defender Aleksandar Lukovic was sent off for two yellow cards. He’ll miss the next match against Germany on Friday.
Gyan had big shoes to fill as he was replacing Michael Essien. Essien, a first choice player for English Premier League champion Chelsea, is out of the tournament due to injury.
This was a game that both teams did not want to lose given that they are in a very well-balanced group along with favorites Germany and Australia. Ghana faces Australia on Friday.
Ghana is coached by Serb Milovan Rajevac, who was up against his native country. Serbia is coached by the legendary Radomir Antic, who has coached at Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The loss will be a bitter pill to swallow for the talented Serbs who have several world class players including Vidic, Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, and captain Dejan STankovic (also captain for European champion Inter Milan).
Serbia can also count on the tallest player in the tournament 6-foot-8-inch striker Nicola Zigic. Zigic squandered a glorious chance in an action-packed second half. He was not sharp, however, and was substituted. He had picked up a yellow card earlier.
The game featured many scoring chances but actually few shots on goal as finishing continues to be poor in this World Cup. The two teams were evenly matched and it was only due to moment of foolishness that Ghana got the upper hand. Gyan had the chance to add a second in injury time but his fast break opportunity resulted in a shot that hit the post.
After seven games in the 2010 World Cup, we have yet to see a game in which more than two goals have been scored.
It was a game of exasperation and frustration for both teams with aspirations for the round of 16, until Asamoah Gyan converted a penalty in the 84th minute after the referee and his assistant correctly spotted a handball by Serbia’s Zdravko Kuzmanovic. As in the Algeria–Slovenia match earlier in the day, it was a case of a player stupidly sticking his arm out to play a ball that was way over his head.
Just five minutes prior to the penalty goal, Ghana’s Richard Kingson made the save of the match off Milos Krasic. After some sloppy Ghanaian defending Krasic had a point blank shot from about 15 yards out but Kingson palmed it safely over the bar.
Serbia’s Manchester United stalwart Nemanja Vidic followed up the ensuing corner kick with a header that went just over the bar. Serbia had been reduced to 10 men after central defender Aleksandar Lukovic was sent off for two yellow cards. He’ll miss the next match against Germany on Friday.
Gyan had big shoes to fill as he was replacing Michael Essien. Essien, a first choice player for English Premier League champion Chelsea, is out of the tournament due to injury.
This was a game that both teams did not want to lose given that they are in a very well-balanced group along with favorites Germany and Australia. Ghana faces Australia on Friday.
Ghana is coached by Serb Milovan Rajevac, who was up against his native country. Serbia is coached by the legendary Radomir Antic, who has coached at Barcelona and Real Madrid.
The loss will be a bitter pill to swallow for the talented Serbs who have several world class players including Vidic, Chelsea’s Branislav Ivanovic, and captain Dejan STankovic (also captain for European champion Inter Milan).
Serbia can also count on the tallest player in the tournament 6-foot-8-inch striker Nicola Zigic. Zigic squandered a glorious chance in an action-packed second half. He was not sharp, however, and was substituted. He had picked up a yellow card earlier.
The game featured many scoring chances but actually few shots on goal as finishing continues to be poor in this World Cup. The two teams were evenly matched and it was only due to moment of foolishness that Ghana got the upper hand. Gyan had the chance to add a second in injury time but his fast break opportunity resulted in a shot that hit the post.
After seven games in the 2010 World Cup, we have yet to see a game in which more than two goals have been scored.
