World Cup 2010: Ghana 1-0 Serbia

The Black Stars of Ghana won their opening Group D game against Serbia, beating them one-nil at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. Striker Asamoah Gyan struck from the spot to give Ghana a real booster, after a Serbian defender handled the ball in the box in a desperate attempt to clear the ball. Below is a minute by minute account of the game. 93rd min: Game over.!!!!!!!!! 92nd min: Asamoah Gyan's final chance takes a ricochet at the goal post and denies the Black Stars their second goal. 90th min: Lee Addy comes in for Kelvin Prince Boateng 88th min: Prince Tagoe yellow carded for hand ball. 83rd min: Asamoah Gyan takes the kick and scores!!! Goal!!!! 82nd min: Penalty!!! as Kuzmanovic handles the ball in the 18 yard box. 81st min: Ivanovic fires a thunderbolt and misses the goal post by inches. 79th min: Richard Kingson makes a superb save from a Milos Krasic close range shot in what should have been the opener for the Serbs. 73rd min: Lokovic sent off after a second bookable offence on Asamoah Gyan. 72nd min: Kwodwo Asamoah out Stephen Appiah in for the Black Stars 59th min: Long throw-in by Paintsil, Asamoah Gyan soars above his markers and heads a powerful one which takes a ricochet at the side post. 58th min: Teasing cross from Jovanovic fails to meet Zigic's as Vorsah clears his lines well. 54th min: Tagoe again makes a teasing ran on the right but failed to release on time but wins a corner for his effort. 53rd min: Superb cross from Tagoe on the right but a feeble header from Ayew denied the Stars the much needed opener. 49th min: Jovanovic gets an opportunity on the left hand side of attack but his final strike goes wayward. 48th min: Sweet ball from Kwodwo Asamoah to Gyan but the striker's return was woeful. Serbs bring the second half underway  45th min: One minute time added on and referee brings proceedings of the first half to a close. 38th min: Serbs' Stankovic hammers from close range but Kingson spills it first, but grabs it the second time. 30th min: The Serbs are beginning to take control after the Black Stars dominated play at the early embers of the game. 28th Min: Zigic sandwiched between Annan and Vorsah and wins a freekick which is taken by Kolarov but whisks just wide. 25th min: Isaac Vorsah yellow carded for a needless challenge on Jovanovic. Free-kick well taken but Pantelic fails to control. 21st Min: Kelvin Boateng combines well with Dede Ayew and whips in a cross from the left which narrowly misses the head of lone striker Asamoah Gyan. 17th min: In a rare attack by the Serbians Milan Jovanovic sends in aimless cross which goes out of touch for a goal kick. 14th min; Ghana mount pressure on Serbia; cheeky back heel from Asamoah Gyan to Kwodwo Asamoah who unleashes a low swift shot but parried for another corner. Corner taken and wasted. 11th min: Kwodwo Asamoa gets his second knock but rises up for battle. 10th min: Rampaging run from Tagoe on the right earns Ghana a corner kick. But taken too deep and goes out of touch for a throw in 7th min Free-kick to Serbia after rough challenge from Tagoe. Quickly taken but headed out. 3rd minute Tagoe brought down close to the 18 yard box for a free kick. Poor execution from Gyan 1st minute Cross from Hans Adu Sarpei; Gyan goes for the header, but beaten. Rebound from Annan goes wayward 14:00 Match underway; Kwodwo Asamoah loses possession easily and Serbia striker tries a long shot which goes straight to touch. 13:58 The two teams exchange pleasantries ready for hostilities to begin. 13:57 National Anthem of Serbia is being played; followed by that of Ghana 13:55 The two teams led by referee Héctor Baldassi and his two assistants make their way from the dug-out onto the field. 13:15 The two teams are in a slight warm up in the Loftus Versfeld Stadium where the vuvuzelas are already blaring from the fans. The Black Stars of Ghana play Serbia in the opening Group D game in a match where victory is a must for both sides.