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 Ghana's Asamoah Gyan fights for the ball with Australia's Lucas Neill (bottom) while watched by Australia's Scott Chipperfield during a 2010 World Cup Group D soccer match at Royal Bafokeng stadium in Rustenburg June 19, 2010. [Agencies] |
RUSTENBURG, South Africa - In their 100th World Cup outing, Ghana tied 1-1 with a tenacious Australian side who were down to 10 men since the 24th minute at a Group D game here on Saturday afternoon.
The Africans now top the group with four points, followed by Germany and Serbia with three points each. Australia is last with one.
The Aussies could still repeat their 2006 feat of reaching the knockout stage if they beat Serbia in their final game on Wednesday, while Ghana need only a point against the Germans to advance.
Ghana's first effort in Royal Bafokeng Stadium came in the sixth minute as Kevin-Prince Boateng denied Jason Culina's possession 35 meters from goal and blasted well wide of the left hand post.
It was Australia who opened the scoring in the 11th minute. Carl Valeri earned a free kick 30 meters from goal and Marco Bresciano curled the ball over the wall and, when Ghana keeper Richard Kingson spilled the ball, Brett Hulman tapped home from close range.
The situation changed at the 24th minute when a Ghana cross from the right found Jonathan Mensah and his goalbound shot hit striker Harry Kewell on the line. It seemed to hit a combination of his chest and right arm and Italian referee Roberto Rosetti pointed to the spot and showed Kewell a red card.
Asamoah Gyan slotted home the penalty as he sent Mark Schwarze the wrong way.
"The red card is a mistake by referee," Australia's Dutch coach Pim Verbeek said after the game.
Kewell, who replaced red-carded Tim Cahill, said the referee's decision was harsh.
"It was a hard decision against Australia, again!" he said.
Unlike Nigeria, who nearly collapsed when reduced to 10 men against Greece, Australia showed real determination, looking every bid as likely to score as their African counterparts.
The second half was full of action.
At the 51st minute, Gyan rushed down from left and curled a shot goalwards that Mark Schwarzer fumbled. A Ghana defender was quick enough to clear the threat.
Moments later, Gyan came back again, turning on the edge of the box and curling in a bouncing left-footer that Schwarzer saved.
At the 66th minute, Aussie substitute Scot Chipperfield smashed a strong header over the bar and Ghana responded with an even bigger threat as Gyan fired over a cross from the right. It beat Schwarzer in the six-yard box, but Kwadwo Asamoah could quite touched it in at the far post.
At the 72nd minute, Luke Wilkshire shot straight at Richard Kingson. Then, from the rebound, Kennedy smashed the ball into the Ghana keeper's arms.
Two sides fought end-to-end until the final whistle.
Ghana could have made it 2-1 as Quincy Owusu-Abeyie forced Schwarzer to tip over and then from the corner, Sulley Muntaria fired over the top.
Ghana's Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac lamented the wasted chances.
"There were chances to score a second goal but we didn't manage it," he said.
