Ghana down Serbia 1-0 with late Gyan penalty

PRETORIA - Ghana became the first African nation to win a game in Africa’s first World Cup when Asamoah Gyan coolly converted a late penalty to down Serbia 1-0 in Group D’s opening match Sunday.

Gyan was the obvious choice for Man of the Match after producing a sparkling performance which included hitting the woodwork twice against a hapless Serbian side.

And there were scenes of jubilation among many of the 38,833 fans gathered in the Loftus Versfeld Stadium, with Fulham’s John Pantsil running across the pitch waving the red-yellow-and-gree Ghanian flag.

“I was lucky to score the goal. Every one of us wanted to win,” said the 24-year-old Gyan, who plays his football in France for Rennes.

Despite the African team being the youngest in the tournament, it was the Europeans who turned out to be by far the most naive on the day.

Not only did they concede a penalty after Dravko Kuzmanovic foolishly handled a fairly innocuous cross into his own area in the 83rd minute - they also gifted Ghana with a one-man advantage when

Aleksander Lukovic being sent off for an entirely avoidable second bookable offense in the 73rd.

“We showed a lot of experience and we were better today,” Gyan said after the match.

The Serbs - playing for the third time at a World Cup under a different name - seemed to agree.

“The red card and the penalty were tragic,” said Serbian forward Marko Pantelic, but “we have to congratulate Ghana. We did not use our chances and Ghana were somewhat luckier than us.”

Ghana got off to a roaring start in Pretoria, but had trouble capitalizing on their eagerness.

The initial minutes saw Anthony Annan fire a long-distance shot wide and Gyan drive a free-kick high over the crossbar.

The Africans kept up the pressure, but they lacked either luck or accuracy. In the 15th, a powerful Kwadwo Asamoah finish destined for goal was deflected into corner by a diving Serbian defender.

Four minutes later, Serbia’s Nikola Zigic was booked for blocking a good run from Andrew Ayew on the right. But the ensuring free kick saw Jonathan Mensah head the ball wide.

It was only about half way into the first half when the Serbs began countering Ghana’s youthful exuberance, and chances started falling their way.

But two free-kicks - by Arsenal’s Marko Pantelic and Lazio’s Aleksander Kolarov - finished only inches wide. And in the 39th, a good Serbian build-up saw veteran Dejan Stankovic drive the ball towards goal for the first time in the game. But his effort was far too central to worry birthday boy Richard Kingson, the Ghana keeper, who turned 32 Sunday.

The second half saw the sides stretch and expose themselves to their opponent’s counterattacks.

But while Serbia held much of possession, it was Ghana who created the most dangerous chances.

The Africans could have gone ahead in the 53rd, but a great diving header by Ayew ended wide. Minutes later, Gyan sent a header against the woodwork for a first time.

The tide turned firmly against Serbia in the 73rd, when Lukovic was sent off for a second bookable offense.

Ten minutes later, Kuzmanovic conceded a penalty that Gyan confidently converted by driving the ball to the left.

Gyan could have made it 2-0 two minutes into stoppage time but again sent the ball against the post.