Shooting the Breeze: World Cup 2010 Day 3 - Group D - Serbia vs Ghana
A deserved African victory after Asamoah Gyan scored the tournament's first penalty to beat Serbia
The top 2 teams from Group D will face the top two teams from Group C and if England qualify from Group C they will have their work cut out to match any of the top two sides from group D, especially if it turns out to be the youthful and energetic Black Stars of Ghana.
Ghana fully deserved their 1-0 penalty win in the game against a Serbia side tipped as dark horses to go far in the World Cup. The game was quick and exciting if perhaps lacking the crucial quality in front of goal.
If Ghana were thought to have been hit hard by the absence of injured Chelsea star Michael Essien they certainly made up for his loss with the selection of Portsmouth's Kevin-Prince Boateng who switched his allegiance to Ghana - the country of his father's birth. Boateng had a great game in midfield and you have to wonder just how much of a powerhouse Ghana would be with Essien in the team as well.
The game was potentially changed when Aleksandar Lukovic was sent off for a second booking in the 74th minute. It was a deserved red card and put the hard working Serbs at a disadvantage as the Ghanians stepped up a gear in order to make their extra man count.
It took until the 85th minute before the deadlock in this absorbing match was broken. Zdravko Kuzmanovic clearly handled the ball in the area. Asamoah Gyan stepped up to slot home the penalty, sending Vladimir Stojkovic the wrong way.
Gyan later could have added to his tally in the final moments when a curling strike struck the woodwork.
