After a poor start to the day with a dismal game between Slovenia and Algeria, Serbia and Ghana stepped up for an afternoon kickoff which signaled the start of Group D (which also holds Germany and Australia).
The game began brightly with the Ghanaians on top. Their movement and passing proved superior and it was the Africans who had the better of the play throughout the first half.
Despite this they created very little but in the second half chances fell to Gyan and Ayew as they looked to get their noses in front. Serbia looked lost at one point but finally found their feet on the hour mark when Zigic missed the chance of the game, failing to convert a cross which found him, at knee height, at the back post.
Like the game played earlier, it then took a sending off for things to really get going. Lukovic was shown his second yellow card and Serbia’s chances soon dipped. Before the card Serbia were 3/1 for the win and minutes afterwards they dropped to 7/1.
Krasic and Vidic both came very close to stealing a late win for ten-man Serbia who pushed on for the win regardless of their handicap, but their hopes were dashed when Kuzmanovic handled in the area to gift Ghana a penalty which Gyan converted with ease.
Ghana now move to the top of the group and have surely dealt a killer blow to Serbia who will need to get something from Germany if they want to qualify.
