Live Ticker: Ghana 2 : 0 USA

Group E show down
Join DW-WORLD.DE for the conclusion of what has become the most exciting group of the World Cup. All teams are still in the race as Ghana, a whole continent's hope, take on USA, currently bottom of the group. Depending on the results from the other game between the Czech Republic and Italy, Ghana can go into the last sixteen with a draw but the US will have to put it all on a win. DW-WORLD.DE will also keep you updated with the scores from the game between the Czechs and the Italians.

The teams.
Ghana (4-4-2):

22-Richard Kingson; 15-John Paintsil, 13-Habib Mohamed, 5-John Mensah, 7-Shilla Illiasu; 9-Derek Boateng, 8-Michael Essien, 10-Stephen Appiah, 23-Haminu Draman; 14-Matthew Amoah, 19-Razak Pimpong

Coach: Ratomir Dujkovic

United States (5-4-1): 18-Kasey Keller; 3-Carlos Bocanegra, 22-Oguchi Onyewu, 13-Jimmy Conrad, 6-Steve Cherundolo, 7-Eddie Lewis; 17-DaMarcus Beasley, 10-Claudio Reyna, 21-Landon Donovan, 8-Clint Dempsey; 20-Brian McBride

Coach: Bruce Arena

Referee: Markus Merk (Germany)

Less than ten minutes to kick-off.
The teams are ready to take the pitch.

The teams are on the pitch.
The anthems are being played. The Ghanaians are looking very concentrated as their flag goes up.

And now the US team get to sing.
Lots of fans sing along in the stands as the stars and stripes reaches for a cloudy but dry sky.

Ghana win the toss.


There is now break in the crowds whistling and chanting.

1. min.
USA kicks off.

1. min.
The US try a long ball for Cherundolo on the right but he can't get the cross in.

2. min.
Another US cross reaches Lewis on the far post who heads it back in to the middle of the box but Ghana get a free-kick.

3. min.
Pimpong rushes down the right and hits a cross to a box where only Americans are to be found.

4. min.
Essien gets booked.
The Ghanaian will miss a possible next game after having brought down Reyna.

6. min.
Both teams have started moderately and carefully, testing the waters, although it's been a bit easier for the Americans to reach the box.

7. min.
Eddie Lewis booked.


8. min.
Nice combination between Pimpong and Boateng gives Ghana a good free-kick position.

9. min.
Essien gets the free-kick from Boateng just outside the area and tries to place it in the right corner. The ball goes about two meters wide.

10. min.
Ghana moving closer
The last couple of minutes Ghana have overcome a bit of their nervousness and started to find their way to the US goal with crosses and combinations.

13. min.
Both teams seem to have respect for each other and for the importance of the moment. The tempo is slow and no chances are taken.

16. min.
US header on goal.
But the attempt is harmless, no problem for Kingson.

19. min.
A good possibility for the US as McBride heads to Bocanegra far down the right but the American is offside.

20. min.
Conrad throws himself to head out a ball destined for Pimpong. First corner is Ghanaian but results in a US free-kick.

21. min.
GHANA!!


21. min.
Dramani steals the ball and scores.
The Ghanaian challenges Reyna and wins the ball ten meters outside the US box. Dramani quickly moves in and places the ball to the right of Keller. Reyna stays on the ground injured.

28. min.
Ghana building confidence.
The Africans have put pressure on the US after their goal and Pimpong is just one of many attempts in the last five minutes. The Ghanaian shoots from the box line and it's not many staws of grass from the goal.

32. min.
Illiasu sees yellow.

Materazzi scores in the 26th minute shortly after coming on the pitch.

34. min.
Donovan gets one of few US chances in the box but the shot flies high.

35. min.
Kingson boxes to corner.
Lewis hits a good free-kick from the right that goes to the far post of Kingson's goal. The keeper has to punch it over the line.

39. min.
Reyna leaves for Olsen.
Reyna tried to continue after the incident that lead to the Ghanaian goal but obviously he's not fully fit.

42. min.
GOAL USA


43. min.
Dempsey scores.
Boateng loses the ball ten meters outside the box to Beasley who quickly rushes down to the left of the box where he hits it in low to Dempsey on the right side. Dempsey hits home without hesitation.

44. min.
Penalty for Ghana.


45. min.
2-1 to Ghana
Appiah fires the penalty high into the net behind Keller.

45+4. min.
First half ends.
Dramatic but not the best football. Both teams have had problems finding their game. The penalty at the end will for sure be debated, and not only in the US team.

The Ghanaian fans are dancing in Nuremberg while Americans are near tears and looking shocked.

The players walk back on the pitch.

45. min.
Boateng leaves room for Addo in the Ghanaian line-up for the second half.


45. min.
Second half kicks off.


47. min.
Essien hurt bit it's not foul play.

48. min.
The Ghanaian is back up.

49. min.
The Americans are trying to keep the ball far into the Ghanaian half and slowly build up. A cross comes in but results in nothing.

51. min.
Donovan gets a ball to run for on the right but the Ghanaian defender is faster.

52. min.
USA gets a free-kick left of the box. The ball is kicked out to a corner.

54. min.
A short corner that leads to some confusion in the Ghanaian defense. The ball finds its way out and is soon part of a Ghanaian counter beautifully finished by Amoah's shot saved to a corner by Keller.

56. min.
A Ghanian free-kick from the right almost reaches Mensah's head at the far post.

58. min.
The Americans show signs of desperation.
Long balls towards the Ghanaian goal have no address.

58. min.
Amoah goes off for Eric Addo.


60. min.
And the US sub as well. Cherundolo leaves for Johnson.


63. min.
The US is playing a dangerous game.
Twice now the Ghanaians have been close to come free with Keller. The offside has saved the US keeper both times.

65. min.
Lewis hits cross that is headed on the post by McBride.
Could this be the opening for the Americans to reach an equalizer.

67. min.
Again the US.
Donovan hits a corner that is headed by Onyewu at the left post. It's close but just high.

69. min.
This is what the Americans need. To put pressure on the Ghanaians and make them nervous. Can the US lift the tempo for the last half hour?

70. min.
American fans are chewing their nails as Ghana are struggling to find their second half rhythm.

72. min.
Pimpong wins the ball in front of the box and flips it over to Appiah who is rushing in from the left. Appiah's shot hits the leg of the US defender.

73. min.
Convey comes on for Lewis who's been one of the best Americans today.


75. min.
Dramani is torn down as he turns to go towards the box but Merk sees no free-kick. Dramani is carried out and Merk clearly doesn't have his best day.

78. min.
Dempsey crosses and McBride goes up but Kingson is first on the ball. The Ghanaian goalie lands badly on McBride.

79. min.
Dramani goes off and Tachie-Mensah goes on.


80. min.
Mensah is booked.
The Americans get a good free-kick opportunity but the ball goes over the goal line.

82. min.
Pimpong is through.
but the ball is kicked away by the US defense just before the Ghanaian gets ready to fire off his shot.

Inzaghi scores in 87th and kicks the Czechs out of this cup.

84. min.
The American crowd is whistling, not happy with Pimpong taking his time to taste the grass after falling to the ground.

88. min.
The US have failed to convince. Their game is too unorganized, too random and without creativity. It is as can they not even build up energy for a last drive.

89. min.
The US get a free chance as Ghana loses possession. Donovan rushes down the right and goes into the box. Why doesn't he shoot? Instead the Ghanaians can break.

90. min.
An US cross reaches McBride who shoots half volley but the ball bounces against a Ghanaian leg.

90+2. min.
Donovan sees yellow. Clearly frustration played a roll.


90+4. min.
Free-kick Ghana as their crowd sings and dances. Only seconds left.

90+5. min.
Game over. Ghana will play the last sixteen.


Not a good game. The US disappoint through all three games and Ghana will have to play better if they want to make the sensation even better and go through to the quarters.

The Italians have won and the Czechs who played so well in their first game are out.