COLOGNE, Germany - Ghana delivered Africa's first victory in this World Cup
with style.
Ghana's John Pantsil, top, and teammate John
Mensa celebrate at the end of the World Cup, Group E soccer match between
Czech Republic and Ghana, at the Cologne stadium, Germany, Saturday, June
17, 2006. Ghana won 2-0. The other teams in Group E are Italy and the
United States.[AP] |
The Black Stars stunned the Czech Republic — ranked second in the world — 2-0
Saturday. A goal in the second minute gave them the lead and they peppered the
Czech net the rest of the game before finally getting another goal.
Ghana's win also helped the United States, which tied Italy 1-1 later
Saturday. The Italians lead Group E with four points, the Czechs and Ghana have
three and the Americans one.
All four are alive to advance, depending on their games Thursday. The
Americans play Ghana and the Italians face the Czechs.
Asamoah Gyan scored in the second minute off a piercing pass from captain
Stephen Appiah. It all went the west Africans' way from then for the biggest
upset in Germany so far.
"It's fantastic. We showed we can do it," Appiah said. "I thank the Ghanians
for their massive support and the Germans, who were shouting 'Ghana, Ghana.'
"I couldn't believe it. I was nearly crying."
Sulley Muntari put the game out of reach in the 82nd minute after keeper Petr
Cech made a handful of spectacular saves.
Czech coach Karel Bruckner had hoped to have qualification sealed before
facing Italy on Thursday, but was left to marvel at Saturday's stunner.
"Our opponent showed extraordinary quality. We couldn't cope," Bruckner said.
Heavily outnumbered by Czech fans in the crowd, Ghana's supporters roared
with delight at every chance and danced in their seats in the 45,000-seat
Cologne Stadium.
Ghana defender John Pantsil, who plays for Hapoel Tel-Aviv, pulled out an
Israeli flag in celebration. John Mensah revealed a T-shirt with an image of
Jesus holding a lamb.
Gyan picked up a pass from Appiah and easily beat Cech from just inside the
area only 68 seconds into the match. Muntari added the second, sending a rocket
of a shot into the upper right corner of the net.
Both goal scorers will miss the next match after successive yellow cards.
Gyan missed a penalty kick in the 67th after Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi
was sent off. He hit the right goalpost moments after putting a shot into the
net — but before the referee blew his whistle to restart play.
Ujfalusi brought down striker Matthew Amoah to draw the penalty.
The Czechs were missing strikers Jan Koller and Aston Villa's Milan Baros
with injuries, but it was the defense that broke down.
"Ghana played very well, starting with their early goal. We were forced to
play an open game which served Ghana," coach Bruckner said.
