Ghana defeat Serbia with late penalty
An 85th minute penalty from Asamoah Gyan gave Ghana a 1-0 victory over Serbia in World Cup Group D yesterday – providing an African country with their first win in the tournament. Ghana's fans produced a truly African atmosphere against Serbia at the Loftus Versfeld stadium yesterday but the game did not truly come alive until Serbia had Aleksander Lukovic sent off for a second bookable offence in the 74th minute.
The Serbs best chances to win the game came after the dismissal when Milos Krasic had a fine effort palmed over and then Nemenja Vidic headed over from the corner.
Branislav Ivanovic then went close with a long-range effort after bursting through from the right but Serbia may wish they had shown such adventure and aggression a little earlier.
A handball by substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic led to the spot kick which Gyan, who had missed several chances, converted with confidence.
Despite the absence of their injured inspiration Michael Essien in midfield, the spirited Ghana enjoyed a lively start and Gyan went close twice with a free-kick which flashed over the bar and a headed opportunity where he failed to make good contact.
Earlier, Slovenia chalked up their first ever World Cup win when a dreadful mistake by Algeria goalkeeper Faouzi Chaouchi handed them a 1-0 victory in their opening Group C match.
Algeria had just been reduced to 10 men when Chaouchi fumbled a harmless looking 79th minute shot from Slovenia captain Robert Koren, allowing the ball to squirt through his arms into the bottom left hand corner of his net.
Six minutes earlier Algeria substitute Abdelkader Ghezzal was sent off for handball having already been booked. The attacking midfielder was only on the pitch for 15 minutes.
Slovenia's only previous appearance at a World Cup finals, in 2002, ended in three defeats but Sunday's win has put them top of the group with three points, two ahead of England and the United States, who drew 1-1 in Rustenburg on Saturday.
"It's going to be more difficult for us now," said Algeria coach Rabah Saadane. "Our great opportunity was today against Slovenia and we missed that opportunity."
Saadane defended Chaouchi and Ghezzal when asked about the mistakes that had cost his team a share of the points.
"Football is full of mistakes and I don't want to blame the two players. I think it was perhaps the state of the turf. Both the ball and the turf were difficult for both goalies," he said.
"The speed and the impact, especially on crosses, was very difficult. The players had to place the balls very carefully."