10-Man Australia hold Ghana
Posted: Jun 19 2010
Australia hung on with 10 men for more than an hour in holding Ghana to a 1-1 draw in Rustenburg.
The Socceroos got off to a dream start when Brett Holman capitalised on Richard Kingson's error to give them the lead on 11 minutes.
However, it went sour soon after when Harry Kewell was adjudged to have handled the ball on the line, earning a straight red.
Asamoah Gyan stepped up to convert the penalty - his second in successive games.
However, the Black Stars were unable to make the numerical advantage count as they settled for a share of the spoils.
After being trounced 4-0 in their opening game against Germany, Australia made a solid start to the game, steadying themselves after their rocky start to the tournament. Kewell was denied an early penalty, but genuine goal scoring chances were non-existent.
A positive run from Carl Valeri on 10 minutes drew a foul from Antony Annan, which presented the Socceroos with a free-kick in a promising position. Kingson, who had earlier collided with Addy, got his body behind Mark Bresciano’s drive, but fumbled for Holman to bury.
Ghana made steady progress in finding a levelling goal, but didn’t look especially menacing immediately after falling behind. Andre Ayew and Gyan both had shots deflected past by Lucas Neill blocks.
Then the game turned. Ayew showed good tenacity to break into the box down the right before cutting a pass back to Jonathan Mensah on the penalty spot. The centre-back fired a strong shot at goal, though his effort was blocked by the upper part of Kewell’s right arm. Having been stationed on the line, the Galatasaray player, who has been heavily criticised in the Australian press, was dismissed.
Gyan sent Mark Schwarzer the wrong way from the resultant penalty.
Prince Tagoe and Gyan both snapped shots off target soon after the goal as the Black Stars really sought to press home their advantage, but some of the momentum was lost as Australia were able to retain possession for significant spells under little pressure.
Kevin-Prince Boateng made a couple of good forays in the dying stages of the first period. Two minutes before the break the midfielder drove a low shot towards Schwarzer’s far post, but the shot-stopper got down superbly to turn away. Bizarrely, referee Roberto Rosetti awarded a goal kick.
The Black Stars were quite clearly intent on making a quick start after the break. Kwadwo Asamoah had a shot fly wide within 60 seconds of the restart and soon Schwarzer would be forced to push away an 18-yard curler from Gyan.
Australia’s attacking threat was extremely limited, but substitute Scott Chipperfield had a golden chance to regain the advantage. Luke Wilkshire made a strong run down the right before delivering to the back post, where the winger steamed onto the ball unmarked but headed over.
Ghana’s inability to piece together a string of meaningful attacks gave the Socceroos the confidence to push additional players forward to worry the inexperienced Ghana rearguard. A well-worked move unlocked the Black Stars’ defence, but Wilkshire lacked the composure in front of goal to beat Kingson. Josh Kennedy couldn’t get sufficient hold of the follow-up to defy the goalkeeper.
Instead of Ghana finishing the match the stronger of the sides, it was in fact Australia who looked likelier to find the net in the closing stages of the game. Several dangerous crosses were slung into the Africans’ box, but after a couple of hairy moments, Milovan Rajevac’s side survived.
Jonathan Mensah had a late header wide as the Black Stars missed a late chance to pinch all three points. Schwarzer then turned over a fierce stoppage time shot from Quincy Owusu-Abeyie.
With just one point, the Socceroos need to defeat Serbia in their final game to stand a chance of reaching the last 16, while Ghana need at least a draw against Germany to book their place in the latter stages of the competition.
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: 2010-06-19 18:25
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