World Cup 2010, Ghana Vs. Australia: 10-Man Socceroos Hold Black Stars

Ghana failed to take full advantage of a 10-man Australia on Saturday, drawing with the Socceroos 1-1 in a result that could leave the Black Stars needing a draw against Germany on Wednesday to advance to World Cup 2010’s knockout stage.

The points leaves Ghana on top of Group D with four points, one point ahead of both Germany and Serbia, while the Australians earned their first point of the tournament, keeping their knockout stage hopes alive.

Australia, without their best player (Tim Cahill), struck first, with Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson allowing Australia’s Brett Holman an 11th minute goal after failing to handle a Mark Bresciano free kick, coughing-up a rebound 10 yards in front of goal for an easy put-back by the Australian.

The Australia goal was not an isolated even, with the Socceroos controlling the first twenty minutes of the match. Awakenings from Kevin-Prince Boateng, Asamoah Gyan and Andre Ayew started to even play, and in the 24th minute an opportunity created down the right flank completely changed the match in Ghana’s favor.

Determined work from Ayew saw the right winger fight-off multiple players to put a cross in for Jonathan Mensah. The central defender’s strike was stopped on the line by Harry Kewell, who was given a straight red card when adjudicated to have extend his right arm to stop the shot.

Harry Kewell had been an injury concern for the World Cup, having suffered a groin injury this winter that kept him out most of the season for Galatasaray. Pim Verbeek included him in the team, and his Saturday return into Tim Cahill’s spot was looked upon as a risk. While Kewell seemed healthy during this 24 minutes on, his straight red card left Australia down a man, with the attacker suspended for Australia’s next match against Serbia.

Asamoah Gyan put Ghana’s penalty kick into the right of Mark Schwarzer’s net, evening the score on the Black Stars’ second converted penalty kick of the tournament.

Though Australia responded reasonably well after going down a match, Ghana improved their production and played the Socceroos even into halftime.

The second half saw an increase in intensity from the Ghanians, but the Australians responded with matching attacks, playing an even second half despite being down a player. Ghana was able to create chances for Gyan, while Verbeek’s insertion of tall striker Joshua Kennedy gave the Socceroos a focus to their attack.

While it is customary to see a team down a man hold-on for a drawn, Australia played Ghana to the 1-1 result. For long portions of the second half they controlled the match, earning their first point of the tournament.

The Aussies remain alive going into their final match of Group D, where they will need to beat Serbia to have a chance to advance. If they win that match on Wednesday, the easiest route for them to make the knockout stage would have Ghana defeat Germany, but a Ghana win or a draw could see Australia advance on a tiebreaker, though their 4-0 loss to Germany makes that improbable.

Ghana now sits on top of Group D and will earn the quartet’s top seed with a win over Germany. Ghana could still advance with a draw or loss but would be relying on a favorable result from the Serbia-Australia match.