Highlights of Match Day 3: Ghana gifts Africa first victory at 2010 World Cup

By Xiang Bin
0 CommentsPrint E-mail china.org.cn, June 14, 2010
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Three games, three victories. Slovenia, Ghana and Germany will be celebrating tonight after their wins.

Thanks to Asamoah Gyan's late spot kick, Ghana on Sunday notched the first win for Africa in the ongoing 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

Gyan calmly rifled an 84th minute spot kick into the roof of the net after Serbia sub Zdravko Kuzmanovic had handled.

Just 10 minutes earlier Serbia had been reduced to 10 men after Aleksandar Lukovic was dismissed for a second bookable offence and his misery was compounded as the late goal saw his nation slip to their fourth consecutive World Cup finals defeat.

Before Ghana's win, hosts South Africa tied Mexico 1-1 in the tournament's opener, Nigeria lost to Argentina 1-0, and Algeria were upset by Slovenia 1-0.

Today in Polokwane, Slovenia snatched their first-ever win in the World Cup finals, edging 10-man Algeria 1-0 in their first Group C match.

This was the first Africa-Europe clash in 2010 World Cup and the first meeting of the two national sides.

A stunning goalkeeping error from Faouzi Chaouchi in the 79th minute gifted Slovenia the victory. Robert Koren tried a speculative shot from 25 yards out and the keeper moved to the right position but failed to hold the ball.

The fatal error was like a photocopy of that in last night's England-United States duel where a U.S. shot slipped in from England keeper Robert Green's hands.

In Durban, Germany kicked off their World Cup Group D campaign in convincing fashion with a 4-0 hammering of 10-man Australia.

Lukas Podolski, Miroslav Klose, Thomas Mueller and substitute Cacau were all on target in an electric performance - probably the best of the tournament so far - at the Moses Mabhida Stadium.

Joachim Loew's side, picked from a squad with an average age of 25, were simply too good for Australia, although the Socceroos' cause was not helped by the dismissal of Tim Cahill early in the second half.

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