Saturday, 19th June 2010
Australia See Red Again
 
Ghana vs Australia
in Rustenburg.
With Germany losing to Serbia
yesterday, it's still all to play for in Group D.
The two Ghana centre-backs looked a little suspect in the early
minutes but they did have their captain standing in the goal, behind them.
Unfortunately, the captain flapped at Mark Bresciano's free-kick;
allowing Brett Holman to follow up on the free ball, with little more than ten minutes
played.
Then, like a boomerang returning from their first games Australia were
shown another red card - Harry Kewell, handled on the line - and Ghana were given another
penalty; Asamoah Gyan again hitting the back of the net, to bring the teams level.
Mark Schwarzer pushed out a low shot (for a goal-kick) from
Kevin-Prince Boateng just before half-time. Strange call from Roberto Rosetti, surely it
should have been a corner.
Half-time: 0:0
Ghana started the second-half trying to make the most of the extra
man. Australia, for their part, couldn't afford to give careless balls away.
Scott Chipperfield headed the ball towards goal just after coming on
for Mark Bresciano. Straight away at the other end, Ghana came close. Both teams still
looking to win the game.
A fine double save by Richard Kingson again kept Australia out in the
72nd minute, as the double substitutions liven things up for the Socceroos. Even the
Australian fans sensed their ten-men could come away from Rustenburg with a win.
Not to be outdone, Ghana pushed forward and Asamoah Gyan had another
great chance for the West Africans.
With fifteen minutes still to go, the game had a real cup final feel
to it.
Jonathan Mensah headed wide from Sulley Muntari's free-kick in the
last minute of normal time as Ghana struggled to get in front of Australia.
Ghana had all the stops but Australia pulled out the stops. It's all
to play for on Wednesday.
Final Score:
Ghana 1 Australia 1
 Goalscorers:
0:1 Brett Holman (11 mins)
1:1 Asamoah Gyan (25 mins) - penalty.
Man of The Match:
Mark Schwarzer - Even though the referee didn't think so, the save from Kevin-Prince
Boateng - just before half-time - kept Australia in the game.
Teams
 Ghana:
22 Richard Kingson; 2 Hans Sarpei, 19 Lee Addy, 8 Jonathan Mensah, 4 John Pantsil; 13
Andre Ayew, 23 Kevin-Prince Boateng, 6 Anthony Annan, 12 Prince Tagoe; 3 Asamoah Gyan, 21
Kwadwo Asamoah.
 Australia:
1 Mark Schwarzer; 21 David Carney, 3 Craig Moore, 2 Lucas Neill, 8 Luke Wilkshire; 5 Jason
Culina, 23 Mark Bresciano, 14 Brett Holman, 16 Carl Valeri, 7 Brett Emerton; 10 Harry
Kewell.
Referee:
Roberto Rosetti (Italy)
 Substitutions:
56 Mins (Ghana) - 20 Quincy Owusu-Abeyie on for 12 Prince Tagoe
66 Mins (Australia) - 11 Scott Chipperfield on for 23 Mark Bresciano
68 Mins (Australia) - 9 Josh Kennedy on for 14 Brett Holman
73 Mins (Ghana) - 11 Sulley Muntari on for 21 Kwadwo Asamoah
84 Mins (Australia) - 17 Nikita Rukavytsya on for 8 Luke Wilkshire
87 Mins (Ghana) - 14 Matthew Amoah on for 23 Kevin-Prince Boateng
 4 Yellow
Cards:
40 Mins - Lee Addy (Ghana)
79 Mins - Jonathan Mensah (Ghana)
84 Mins - Anthony Annan (Ghana)
86 Mins - Craig Moore (Australia)
 1 Red Card:
24 Mins - Harry Kewell (Australia)
Previous Encounters:
Of the five friendly matches held in Australia, the home side have won four and lost one.
On neutral territory (London, in 2006), Ghana drew with Australia (1:1).
2010 World Cup Finals - Knockout Stage.
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