World Cup 2010: Asamoah Gyan’s Late Penalty Kick Gives Ghana 1-0 Win Over Serbia

Asamoah Gyan’s 83rd minute penalty kick conversation gave Ghana a 1-0 win over Serbia, the first three points of Group D play, and the first win by an African team in South Africa 2010.

Hosts South Africa opened the tournament on Friday with a 1-1 draw with Mexico. Nigeria lost to Argentina 1-0 yesterday, but today a late handball in the Serbia penalty area from substitute Zdravko Kuzmanovic set Ghana up for Africa’s first victory.

A clumsy hand-ball from Zdravko Kuzmanovic gave Ghana a penalty kick, confidently put high into the net by Asamoah Gyan to give the Black Stars a 1-0 lead in the 83rd minute of their match against Serbia.

A cross played from the left flank from Andre Ayew innocently crossed the box, but Kuzmanovic misjudged a ball he looked set to head out of the box, and with a raised hand he made contact with the ball, gifting Ghana a penalty kick.

Serbia defender Aleksandar Lukovic has been shown a second yellow card and dismissed after pulling down a Ghanian player in the 73rd minute. Neven Sobutic has come on for Milan Jovanovic to restore the Serbian back line to four, using Serbia’s final substitution.

The match against Ghana remains an open if scoreless affair.

Though 135 minutes of action today we have one, fluke goal. The first 45 minutes of action between Ghana and Serbia were not responsible for the goal, though as opposed to the day’s first match, each team continuously searched for one.

In an up-and-down affair, Serbie and Ghana go into half time scoreless, with Ghana using strong wing play from Prince Tagoe and Andre Ayew to offset Serbia’s Milan Jovanovic and Milan Krasic.