The Ghana national football team became the fist Africa team to register a victory in the ongoing 2010 FIFA World Cup by beating Serbia national football team 1-0 in Sunday’s Group D opening match. 

A superbly taken  85th-minute penalty by Asamoah Gyan ensured Ghana began their Group D campaign with victory against 10-man Serbia whose defender Aleksandar Lukovic was red carded for his second bookable offence in the 74th minute. 

Asamoah Gyan celebrates scoring for Ghana

Raddy Antic, the Serbian Tactician had seen his side resist committed Ghana attacks until substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic handled the ball in an attempt to clear a dangerous cross, and the black Stars were awarded the penalty. 

Asamoah converted superbly and sent the Ghana fans in wild cheers at Loftus Versfeld Stadium where 38,833 people were in attendance.  

Ghana created the first genuine opportunity of the match when a stinging goalbound left-foot strike by Kwadwo Asamoah was deflected wide by the sprawling right leg of striker Nikola Zigic, while John Mensah and Asamoah Gyan failed to capitalise on half-chances shortly after. 

Serbia’s best opportunity came from a set-piece when Aleksandar Kolarov’s superbly struck 30-yard left-footed free-kick curled past the left-hand post. Ghana once again dictated the tempo at the start of the second half, with Andre Ayew miscuing a header wide with his marker Vidic well beaten. Gyan went even closer soon after when he leapt elegantly to meet John Pantsil’s long throw into the 18-yard box, only for his powerful six-yard header to skim the outside of Vladmir Stokjovic’s left-hand post. 

Ghana Coach Milovan Rajevac, playing his countrymen the Serbs, omitted European Cup-winning midfielder Sulley Muntari in midfield, while Kevin-Prince Boateng, who represented Germany under-21s, lined up for only his second appearance in a Black Stars shirt. 

Now Ghana is in vintage position in Group D as they await the result of the match between German and Australia laiter on Sunday. 

See Results of matches so far played at FIFA 2010 World Cup  

South Africa 1-1 Mexico 

France 0-0 Uruguay 

Korea Republic 2-0 Greece 

Argentina 1-0 Nigeria 

England 1-1 USA 

Slovenia 1-0 Algeria 

By Ultimate Media

The post Ghana beats Serbia 1-0 in 2010 World Cup first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.

Ghana appearing at the World Cup for the second time have won four CAF African Cup of Nations titles, though none since 1982, as well as two FIFA U-17 World Cups, and they became the first African team to lift the FIFA U-20 World Cup when they beat Brazil on penalties in October 2009. With added experience since their 2006 adventure, where they lost to Italy and Brazil but beat the Czech Republic and USA, Ghana are set to be a major threat at Africa’s first FIFA World Cup.

Ghana football team at 2010 FIFA World Cup

Ghana will kick off their FIFA World Cup in Tshwane/ Pretoria against Serbia on 13 June before making the journey to Rustenburg to face Australia on 19 June. They will then play Germany at Johannesburg’s Soccer City Stadium on 23 June.

The first African team to qualify for South Africa 2010, Ghana is anxious to prove themselves as a top football team in Africa.

Ghana guaranteed their place in the finals after going unbeaten through their opening four matches of the final round. They did not concede a goal in the group until a shock 1-0 defeat at Benin, but that came after they had already qualified. The key stretch for the west Africans came in June 2009 when they won 2-0 away to both Mali and Sudan, with Germany 2006 veteran Matthew Amoah scoring a goal in the first match and both in the second. Ironically, Ghana were shakier in the previous round of qualifying, only topping the group on goal difference over Gabon and Libya after losing a match to both teams.

Ghana football team star players
Although Ghana lack the attacking firepower of many African sides, they rely most prominently on a world class midfield led by Michael Essien whom they will miss due to injury. The Chelsea man usually pairs with Sulley Muntari and captain Stephen Appiah to form a formidable engine room capable of both stifling attacks and creating them. Two of the trio Asamoah Gyan, Junior Agogo and Matthew Amoah usually operate in attack, while the England-based duo of John Mensah and John Paintsil keep the back tight in front of another Premier League player, goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

“This team is very hungry to play in the finals again. My players are aware of what they can achieve, and we have the quality to go far. I am very confident about the future,” says Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac.

Ghana Record

• Ghana were the youngest team at Germany 2006, with an average age of just under 24 years.
• Asamoah Gyan scored the fastest goal of the 2006 FIFA World Cup after 68 seconds in their 2-1 win over Czech Republic. It was also Ghana’s first-ever goal in the finals.
• Ghana lost 3-0 to Brazil in the second round of Germany 2006, but they were without the talismanic Michael Essien, who was suspended.

Ghana National football team Squad

Goalkeepers

• Daniel AGYEI
• 16 Stephen AHORLU
• 22 Richard KINGSON

Defenders

• 2 Hans SARPEI
• 4 John PANTSIL
• 5 John MENSAH
• 7 Samuel INKOOM
• 8 Jonathan MENSAH
• 15 Isaac VORSAH
• 17 Ibrahim AYEW
• 19 Lee ADDY

Midfielders

• 6 Anthony ANNAN
• 9 Derek BOATENG
• 10 Stephen APPIAH
• 11 Sulley MUNTARI
• 13 Andre AYEW
• 21 Kwadwo ASAMOAH

Strikers

• 3 Asamoah GYAN
• 12 Prince TAGOE
• 14 Matthew AMOAH
• 18 Dominic ADIYIAH
• 20 Quincy OWUSU-ABEYIE
• 23 Kevin Prince BOATENG

Coach

• Milovan RAJEVAC

The post Ghana national Football team profile first appeared on Uganda Multimedia News & Information.