World Cup 2010: Ghana 1-0 Serbia

Vladimir Stojkovic is stranded as Asamoah Gyan sends him to the wrong end to give Ghana her first win at the South Africa tournament.   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. The win is the first for any African side at the South Africa 2010 tournament, after a draw by South Africa, and losses by Nigeria and Algeria. Below is a minute by minute account of the game. You can see photos from the match in our galleries. 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 Kwadwo Asamoah to Gyan but the striker's return was woeful. Serbs bring the second half underway Stunned! Marko Pantelic typifies the Serbian side who could simply not believe what fate had befallen them.   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 Kwadwo Asamoah who unleashes a low swift shot but parried for another corner. Corner taken and wasted. 11th min: Kwadwo Asamoah 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.