Stars cruise on for Ghana and Africa

(By Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent in Nuremburg, Germany)

Ghana's Black Stars on Thursday cruised to the knock out stage of the World Cup currently under way in Germany, with 2-1 victory over the USA in their last group E duel played in Nuremberg.

The Ghanaians, who became the only African and debutant to have travelled this far in the two-week old tournament scored both goals in the first half through Haminu Draman and skipper Stephen Appiah.

The Stars, playing without influential talismans, Sulley Ali Muntari and Asamoah Gyan took the lead on the 22nd minute, when Draman, making his debut in the tourney, robbed Claudio Reyna of the ball on the edge of the area and coolly slotted it past goalkeeper Kasey Keller to silence the Americas.

The game, which was hampered by the soggy nature of the pitch swung from one end to the other, with both teams creating few chances. Influential midfielder Michael Essien, who misses the next game for picking as second yellow fired wide after received a square pass in the box.

Ghana almost added a second on the half hour mark as Essien threaded a ball to Razak Pimpong but the centre forward shot wide off the right post.

However it was the turn of the Americans to click as Clint Dempsey's powerful finish two minutes before half time gave the US hope of winning the match.

Dempsey finished a pass well cooked by playmaker DeMarcus Beasley to keep goalkeeper Richard Kingston flatfooted.

But the Americans went from high to low within a matter of minutes when Oguchi Onyewu was penalised for pushing Pimpong in the box. The Americans were soon to go behind again through Stephen Appiah's penalty.

The skipper voted as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) after the game took a composed kick to restore Ghana's lead before the break. The game resumed with the physical Americans in their elements, but it was the Ghanaians with their appetite high on gaols that almost added a third, ten minutes into the second half but a brilliant one-handed diving save by Keller denied Appiah.

The first quarter-hour of the second half was similar to the first 15 minutes of the first half, with a lot of physical play in midfield and few chances for either team.

After wasting two quick chances, the Americans began to attack with more passion than precision and repeatedly got caught offside, as they desperately tried to beat Ghana's rear trap which was neatly set by John Mensah, John Painstil, Sheila Illiasu and Hadid Mohammed.

Scanty chances were created as the clock ticked and with desperation mounting for the US, Ghana almost grabbed a third when Alex Mensah-Tachie, a substitute tried to deflect a driven pass into the net, but it went just wide off the left-hand post.

The Stars thus set up a game with defending champions, Brazil in Dortmund on Tuesday.

LINE UP: Richard Kingston, John Painstil, Habib Mohammed, Sheila Illiasu, John Mensah, Michael Essien, Derek Boateng/Otto Addo, Stephen Appiah, Mathew Amoah/Eric Addo and Razak Pimpong .