2010 World Cup: Ghana v Germany full time report
Ghana 0 Germany 1
A stunning goal from Mesut Özil at Soccer City ensured that Germany will face England in the last 16 of the World Cup, as Ghana became the first African side to make it through too.
The Germans finish top of Group D thanks to Özil’s left footed strike, which flew into the top left corner of Richard Kingson’s net on the hour mark.
It was the highlight of a thrilling, end-to-end game in Johannesburg, which saw Philipp Lahm clear an Asamoah Gyan effort off the line, with the Ghanaians appealing for handball and a red card for the German captain.
Kingson raced off his line to deny Özil, and Prince Tagoe came close with a header, but Özil’s excellent strike was somehow the only goal of the night.
And what a goal it was. Fit to win any game and fit to earn the Germans a berth in the last 16 – and a much anticipated clash with old rivals England, but this young, vibrant Ghana side deserve to go through too after an entertaining night.
In an open start, Cacau tested Kingson from a tight angle, before Lukas Podolski’s effort was deflected wide, and Podolski’s cross was almost diverted into his own net by Jonathan Mensah, only for Kingson to save at his near post.
Germany – missing the suspended Miroslav Klose – were on the front foot, but they were soon undone by an excellent Ghanaian move down their left flank, which ended with André Ayew’s cutback finding Gyan, whose goalbound effort was well blocked by Bastian Schweinsteiger.
The roles were soon reversed, and good work from Gyan led to a chance for Ayew, whose dalliance on the ball allowed the German defenders to get back, before Gyan’s header from a corner was cleared off the line by German captain Lahm, who was stationed on the back post. Replays suggested that the ball may have brushed Lahm’s arm, but punishment would have been harsh.
In between those two opportunites, Özil found himself one-on-one with Kingson after racing onto a Cacau pass, but he could only sidefoot the ball straight at the goalkeeper, before Cacau’s snap-shot was saved by the Ghanaian goalkeeper.
German left back Jérôme Boateng was making his first start of the tournament, ironically lining up against half-brother Kevin-Prince Boateng, playing in midfield for Ghana and the focus of so much German dissatisfaction for first turning his back on the country of his birth, and then causing the injury that has ruled Michael Ballack out of this tournament when the two clashed in the English FA Cup final.
It was real end-to-end stuff, and the Boatengs were heavily involved.
After Ayew had tricked Jérome, brother Kevin-Prince’s header flashed wide, before Schweinsteiger’s free kick was clawed away by Kingson.
The second half promised as much action when it opened with Podolski’s dipping shot that went over, before Gyan’s flick on put Kwadwo Asamoah through, but the winger’s effort was straight at Manuel Neuer.
Germany were starting to turn the s***w, and some neat interplay almost got them through several times, before cometh the hour, cometh the man.
Özil collected a Thomas Müller pass on the edge of penalty area, and the Werder Bremen midfielder allowed the ball to sit up before smashing a sublime left footed effort into the top left corner of Kingson’s goal.
Prince Tagoe almost levelled matters immediately at the other end, before a stunning last gasp challenge from Lahm denied Ayew when the Ghanaians seemed certain to equalise.
News from Nelspruit that Australia were beating Serbia favoured the Ghanaians, and the Black Stars now knew that they stood a great chance of being the first – and probably only – African country to qualify for the last 16 should the score stay the same.
But the tempo never dropped, and Anthony Annan tested Neuer from range, however, the Germans held on.
Ghana go on to face the USA in the second round, but it is Germany’s clash with England that will really set the hearts racing, just like this match did.
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