WORLD CUP : Ghana oust US

NUREMBERG:

Ghana reached the second round at the World Cup in its first appearance, beating the United States 2-1 in Group E on Thursday.

Captain Stephen Appiah scored the winning goal, converting a penalty kick in the second minute of first-half injury time after United States defender Oguchi Onyewu was called for a foul in the penalty area. Haminu Draman put the African team ahead in the 22nd minute, breaking in alone on goalkeeper Kasey Keller. The United States equalized when Clint Dempsey scored in the 43rd minute.

Brian McBride nearly leveled again in the 66th, but his diving header inside the box hit the near post. A minute later, Onyewu sent a header off Landon Donovan’s corner kick over the crossbar. In order to advance, the Americans needed a victory and some

help. They got the needed assistance when Italy defeated the Czech Republic 2-0 in Hamburg. But the United States didn’t come through and finished the tournament with one point — its first ever in a World Cup played in Europe.

The Black Stars received a pregame visit from Cameroon’s Samuel Eto’o, Africa’s player of the year. Ghana is the first African team to advance to the second round in this year’s tournament.

Tunisia, which plays Ukraine on Friday, also has a chance. Angola, Ivory Coast and Togo have been eliminated. — AP