Ghana vs Germany, 2010 FIFA World Cup, Group Stage

· FIFA World Cup

Ghana

FT
0 - 1

Germany

60': Mesut Özil

About

Ghana are hosting Germany at FNB Stadium, Johannesburg, South Africa, starting on . The match is a part of the FIFA World Cup.

Match Timeline

0':
0': Andrew Hush has the lowdown on some of the African teams, with Ghana having a great chance to qualify.
0': Join us at 1830 GMT to see if Germany or Ghana can make it to the next round.
0': Good evening all and welcome to live coverage of the climax from Group D, as Ghana and Germany battle it out for top spot. Serbia and Australia can both still qualify though.
0': Ghana make one change from the team that drew with Australia, as Jonathan Mensah comes in for Lee Addy. That means Ghana's centre back pairing is JOhn Mensah alongside Jonathan Mensah.
0': As for Germany, they make two changes as Cacau and Jerome Boateng come in for Badstuber and the suspended Miroslav Klose.
0': So, the situation is this. If Ghana win, they go through as group winners. If Germany win, they should, even if Serbia beat Australia, courtesy of their superior goal difference. If there is a draw, Serbia can knock Germany out if they win. Don't forget there's a live table on this page, on the bottom right.
0': Jerome Boateng and Kevin-Prince Boateng are brothers, but they line-up against each other today. And after Kevin injured Michael Ballack in the FA Cup final while playing for Portsmouth, the two have fallen out and haven't spoken for a month. Hmm, spicy. Can't beat a family feud at the World Cup can you?
0': The teams are out. No Boateng dares exchange eye contact with the other. The neutrals in the stadium will surely be supporting Ghana, seeing as we are in big danger of an African team not making the last 16.
0': ESPN Stats & Info: The only previous encounter between these two sides was won 6-1 by Germany in 1993. Germany have not lost against an African side since 1982 (lost 1-2 v Algeria in the World Cup).
1': KICK-OFF
1': An early effort from Andre Ayew spins wide of Germany's goal.
2': Just like England earlier, the strips are a tad confusing. Ghana in white, Germany in black.
3': An early threat down the right from Ozil but his flick into the centre is cut out by Mensah. John, not Jonathan.
4': Now Cacau fires in a shot from an angle but it is right at Kingson.
5': I shall, of course, keep you updated with the latest from Nelspruit. It is 0-0 so far.
6': Good handling from Kingson as Friedrich fired a low cross into the box.
7': Boateng finds Gyan and but for a poor first touch, he was in on goal.
8': Podolski unloads his first effort, it takes a deflection off Sarpei and Germany have a corner.
9': Cacau turns a looping ball into the box and Khaedira gets a whack from Schweinsteiger, who attempted an overhead kick. Then they both fell over.
10': Good save at the near post by Kingson as Mensah inadvertently diverted Podolski's cross towards goal.
11': A bright start from Germany here. But Ghana can still top the group with a draw don't forget.
12': ESPN Stats & Info: Germany have won all of their last 11 games against a non-European or South American sides at the World Cup finals, keeping a clean sheet in five of the last six of these.
13': Big chance for Serbia in Nelspruit, as Krasic rounds the 'keeper before firing well wide of the target. He was off balance, but he should have scored.
14': A good chance for Ghana as Sarpei and Ayew combine on the left to set up Gyan inside the box, but his shot on goal is blocked well by Schweinsteiger.
15': A warning there for the Germans that they won't have this all their own way. Podolski has a chance at the back post to volley but doesn't catch it cleanly.
16': Asamoah breaks down the left and looks early for Gyan but Mertesacker clears the danger.
17': Mertesacker feigns injury after Gyan jumps into his clearance.
18': Ozil fires in an early cross from deep but Sarpei does well to make sure Muller can't connect with it.
19': A mild scare for Neuer whose control had to be good as Gyan closed him down.
20': A great run from Lahm, that started with a handball by the way, as he charges into the area before a rather weak cross is cleared behind for a corner.
21': Podolski looks for Ozil but Kingson was in thw wide awake club and he charged out to claim.
22': Serbia piling the pressure on the Aussies. Mark Schwarzer makes a smart save to keep it scoreless.
23': Cacau has a right pop at someone after he whacks a cross high and wide over the net. Settle down fella.
23': Another chance for Ghana as Ayew gets into the box but he can't get a shot off in time. Poor play. He should have hit that straight away.
24': Then Ozil breaks the offside trap and is clean through but Kingson stays big and saves with his legs. Well done Wigan's third choice 'keeper.
25':
Tagoe and Podolski chase the ball.
26': Now Gyan's flicked header from the corner is cleared on the line by Lahm. Good defending but Neuer was nowhere.
27': A decent, lively game this.
28': KP Boateng is lucky there as he stops a Ghana attack in its tracks allowing Scweinsteiger to come away. Then Annan intervenes.
29': Poor control from Tagoe as Ghana looked to break.
30': Cacau meets Muller's cross on the volley but Kingson grabs it at his near post.
31': Muller again works well down the right side and a touch from one Mensah helps the other Mensah to clear.
32': A superb move from Ghana as KP Boateng spread it wide to the right for Ayew before chasing into the box and flashing a header wide of goal. Joachim Low is not happy.
33':
Bastian Schweinsteiger controls the ball.
34': KP Boateng is revelling in his public enemy number one status against Germany. He unloads a no-look pass for Ayew there. He played for Germany until under-21 level don't forget.
35': Replays show Lahm's goal-line clearance hit his arm. If the ref had seen it, he had to walk.
35': Ozil wins a corner off Mensah.
36': Scweinsteiger's corner is met by Khedira but he nods high and wide.
37': Asamoah chases Schweinsteiger, then goes down claiming he got a whack in the face. He did, but it was more of a brush.
38': Our referee is a right drama queen. He gestures wildly as Schweinsteiger wins a free-kick. Now Sarpei concedes a corner as Muller runs at him.
39': Cacau runs at Ayew and though the Ghana player won the ball, he did it from the side. Not a foul in my book, and never a yellow.
40': Schweinsteiger's free-kick bypasses everyone and Kingson is forced into a late save.
41': Now Asamoah wins a free-kick at the other end of the field.
42': Another great ball from KP Boateng but Gyan is crowded out.
43': Muller lunges in on Mensah and gets a yellow card.
44':
Ghana's John Pantsil and Germany's Mesut Oezil do battle.
45': Danger again for Germany as Ayew gets into the area. His cross is met by Gyan but he can't direct it properly.
45': HALF TIME A good 45 minutes with chances at either end. As it stands, both these sides are going through, but a goal for Serbia will change all that.
45': I've been impressed with Ghana, having not seen them to date. They have width, pacy striker's and neat touches. Germany have struggled a bit, but should be leading after Ozil's great chance.
45': Comment from John Brewin at Soccer City: Germany cannot count on this result taking them through. Ghana shaded the second-half of the first half against a not-necessarily rigid defence. Klose's class looks a big loss and they may rue Ozil's miss.
45': ESPN Stats & Info: Bastian Schweinsteiger leads all players with 66 touches - 23 more than the next-highest total (Jerome Boateng, 43), and 31 more than Ghana's leader (Kevin Prince-Boateng, 35).
46': We're off again....
47': Podolski has a pop from 30 yards but it flies over.
48': A shaky clearance from Kingson is tidied up by Annan.
49': Ozil's cross is shanked by Mensah and Germany get a corner they really shouldn't have done.
50': Kingson came for the corner but didn't get it and Muller's volley is nearly turned into the net by Mertesacker but Ghana clear.
51': A great chance for Ghana as Asamoah is clean through but he rather scuffs his shot and Neuer can palm it away. Should have done better.
52': With my England hat on, both defences have looked a little vulnerable in this game. Happy days.
53': Gyan asks far too much of Tagoe after Annan's neat back heel. He looks like a player.
54': Still no movement in Nelspuit as Serbia press for the goal that would take them top of the group as things stand.
55': Asamoah can't collect Annan's pass and the game has lost a litlle momoentum now.
56': Lahm crosses but Mensah clears for a corner.
57': Cacau misses his kick when Ozil's cross fell to him in the bo. He's looked a yard off the pace.
58': Great foot from Sarpei as Germany pressed. He prevented Cacau finding Muller who was free on the right edge of the box.
60': GOAL Ozil! What a strike! The ball fell to him and he had all the time in the world to steady himself, and thump it into the top corner.
61': So, Ghana need a goal. They are still second as it stands but if Serbia score, they are in trouble.
62': Ghana win a corner as KP Boateng but Neuer punches clear.
63': You may need to manually refresh the page for the time being, we're having some technical difficulties at present. Press F5 at your leisure.
64': Muntari is coming on for Ghana, in place of Tagoe.
65': Muntari is lucky to be on the field at all. He tore into the coach after the last game and was very nearly sent home, until a grovelling apology prevented it.
66': ESPN Stats & Info: Mesut Ozil's strike was the first German goal scored from outside the 18-yard box (tenth in the tournament from outside the box).
66': A great move from Ghana as Asamoah's back heel finds Ayew and only a great tackle from Lahm takes the shot over the bar.
67': Germany change: Muller comes off and Piotr Trochowski is on.
68': Goal for Australia! Tim Cahill has scored!
69': Cacau cuts inside and shoots but Kingson parries. That Australia goal doesn't change anything for these two. Not unless the Aussies score three more goals.
70': We have a Ghana player down. Mensah took Schweinsteiger's shot right in the kisser. The jabulani might be light but they still smart a bit.
71': Jerome Boateng makes way and Marcell Jansen is on.
72': I wonder how up to speed the players are. Surely both benches will know what is going on and what is this... we have another goal for Australia!
73': So, the Australians need a two-goal swing. So if they score one more and Germany score one more then they will make it through.
74': Also, if Australia hang on and Ghana somehow come back and win, then Germany will go out.
75': Trochowski is down at the moment. Ghana want to get on with it.
76': Podolski wastes another good chance to cross, then as Ghana steal upfield, Neuer is off his line quickly to clear from Asamoah.
77': Ghana know as it stands they will face the USA. Surely, they will be content with that and leave Germany to play England? The only way things get nasty is if Australia score two more.
78': Annan tries one from 30 yards but Neuer is behind it.
79': Muntari has been rotten since he came on.
80': Cacau is down but it is Schweinsteiger that is coming off. Toni Kroos replaces him.
81': Gyan is coming off and Matthew Amoah is coming on.
82': Boateng puts a decent cross in but Mertesacker clears. Ghana come again though.
83': Serbia have pulled one back against Australia, and that should probably seal both their deaprtures.
84': Marcell Jansen fires a ridiculous effort over the bar.
85': If Serbia get another goal then they will go through on goals scored. Oh the permutations. Its enough to make your head hurt.
85':
Mesut Ozil of Germany celebrates his goal.
86': Ghana are on the brink here. If this game stays the same and Serbia get an equaliser, then they'll be out.
87': The sting has gone out of the game here. Ghana are happy to settle for a defeat and pray it gets them second spot it seems.
88': Serbia pile men forward for a corner.
89': Tim Cahill has just handballed in the area but he got away with it. Wasn't deliberate.
90': Three added minutes...
91': The game has petered out here. Ghana aren't looking that urgently for a leveller.
92': Ayew goes off and Adiyiah is on.
93': Serbia have just missed a great chance! Unbelievable! That could have taken them through!
93': FULL TIME Germany top the group and will play England. Ghana will face the USA.
94': The players embrace at the end of the game, safe in the knowledge that they will be playing in the last 16 this weekend. The Soccernet office is now bracing itself for the old enemy - as Germany face England on Sunday afternoon.
94': Comment from Charles Kichere on Facebook: Big up Ghana. More than 53 African countries are supporting you.
95': As for Ghana, I've never seen such delight in defeat. Not only have they qualified, but they have avoided England. Not that the USA will be any easier, in the interests of political correctness.

Statistics

GER		GHA
5	Fouls	11
1	Yellow Cards	1
0	Red Cards	0
4	Offsides	3
7	Corner Kicks	4
3	Saves	6
55	Possession	45
13	SHOTS	17
6	ON GOAL	5
0.4	On Target %	0.2
0	Penalty Goals	0
0	Penalty Kicks Taken	0
459	Accurate Passes	293
552	Passes	370
0.8	Pass Completion %	0.8
9	Accurate Crosses	3
25	Crosses	15
0.4	Cross %	0.2
50	Long Balls	54
35	Accurate Long Balls	16
0.7	Long Balls %	0.3
4	Blocked Shots	7
17	Effective Tackles	12
19	Tackles	16
0.9	Tackle %	0.8
0	Interceptions	0
10	Effective Clearances	13
25	Clearances	27

Game Information

Competition: FIFA World Cup

Venue: FNB Stadium
Location: Johannesburg, South Africa
Attendance: 83,391

FIFA World Cup Table

#	TEAM	GP	GD	PTS
1	United States	0	0	0
2	Paraguay	0	0	0
3	Australia	0	0	0
4	Winner Playoff Path C	0	0	0

Full Table

Line-Ups

Ghana (4-2-3-1)

No.	Name
22	Richard Kingson (GK)
5	John Mensah
8	Jonathan Mensah
2	Hans Sarpei
4	John Pantsil
21	Kwadwo Asamoah
23	Kevin-Prince Boateng
6	Anthony Annan
3	Asamoah Gyan
13	André Ayew
12	Prince Tagoe

Ghana Substitutes:

Stephen Ahorlu, Samuel Inkoom, Derek Boateng, Daniel Adjei, Dominic Adiyiah, Stephen Appiah, Lee Addy, Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, Rahim Ayew, Sulley Muntari, Matthew Amoah, Isaac Vorsah.

Germany (4-2-3-1)

No.	Name
1	Manuel Neuer (GK)
3	Arne Friedrich
17	Per Mertesacker
20	Jérôme Boateng
16	Philipp Lahm
8	Mesut Özil
7	Bastian Schweinsteiger
6	Sami Khedira
19	Cacau
10	Lukas Podolski
13	Thomas Müller

Germany Substitutes:

Marcell Jansen, Stefan Kiessling, Tim Wiese, Dennis Aogo, Holger Badstuber, Piotr Trochowski, Serdar Tasci, Mario Gómez, Toni Kroos, Hans-Jörg Butt, Marko Marin.

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