SYDNEY, Australia - Winger Mile Sterjovkski's goal one minute into the second half gave Australia a 1-0 win over Ghana in an international friendly Friday at Sydney Football Stadium. I Am: Looking for:
Australia used the match to prepare for four 2010 World Cup qualifiers in June _ against Iraq in Brisbane (June 1) and Dubai (June 7), Qatar in Doha (June 14) and against China in Sydney on June 22.
Ghana started the match without hearing its national anthem due to a stadium gaffe. The African country's anthem was supposed to be played first but after an awkward delay, Australia's national anthem was played. There was another slight delay and players looked around confused before being urged to do the customary handshake before kickoff, drawing jeers from the crowd.
"FFA (Football Federation Australia) apologizes profusely to the Ghanaian Football Association and to the Ghana fans," an FFA spokesperson said. "The error was an issue of the contractor who manages the event and was not the fault of the Sydney Football Stadium or the FFA."
Australian striker Joel Griffiths, who lined up alongside brother Adam in the national team for the first time, was the first to find space in the ninth minute but opted to cut the ball across rather than shoot himself.
Jacob Burns fired over the bar five minutes later before Sterjovski wasted one of the better chances in the 21st minute when he latched on to a through ball but smashed his volley straight at Ghana goalkeeper William Amamoo.
Ghana played stronger later in the half with several chances falling to striker Manuel Agogo, who had one effort disallowed for offside.
Australia has won four of six matches against Ghana. The last time the teams met in November 2006 in London, they drew 1-1.
