The Black Stars: Ghana Journey in The World Cup 2010 Part 1

The FIFA World Cup 2010 is the nineteenth edition of the FIFA World Cup, and it is the first tournament to be held on the African continent, specifically in South Africa; The tournament was held from June 11 to July 11, 2010, after being chosen after a competition with Egypt and Morocco.

The draw put Ghana in Group D along with Germany, Serbia, and Australia.

Ghana National Team opened its group stage matches on June 13, 2010, at Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, against Serbia.

Ghana managed to win that match with a single goal, scored by Asamoah Gyan from a penalty kick in the 85th minute.

On the 19th of the same month, at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, Ghana national team faced its Australian counterpart.

The Australian Brett Holman opened the score in the 11th minute before Asamoah Gyan scored the equalizer from a penalty kick also in the 25th minute.

The match ends with a 1-1 draw, despite both teams' attempts to win.

Ghana concluded its group stage matches against Germany at Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg, South Africa.

Ghana faced the pride of the German National Team, which was threatened with knocking out from the first round after collecting 3 points from two matches (a victory over Australia and a loss with Serbia), and therefore any result but a victory could put the Germans out of the tournament. The Ghanaians were unable to face Germany and lost with the goal of Mesut Ozil at minute 60 of the match.

Despite this loss, Ghana managed to qualify for the second round, beating Australia on goal difference, while Germany topped the group.

In the second round and at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium in the city of Rustenburg, Ghana faced the USA team at 8:30 local time in South Africa on June 26, 2010, Hungarian referee Victor Kasai blew his whistle, announcing the start of the match.

Ghana was represented by the following squad in that match:

Goalkeeper: Richard Kingson

Defenders: Hans Sarabi, John Banestel, John Mesnah, Samuel Encom

Midfielders: Anthony Annan, Andre Io, Kwadwo Asamoah

Forwards: Asamoah Gyan, Kevin-Prince Boateng

USA was represented by the following squad:

Goalkeeper: Tim Howard

Defenders: Carlos Bocanegra, Steve Chirondolo, Jonathan Bronstein, Jay Demert

Midfielders: Michael Bradley, Clint Dempsey, London Donovan, Riccardo Clark

Forwards: Jose Altidore, Robbie Findley

In the 5th minute Kevin Prince Boateng opened the scoring for Ghana after an individual effort, and in the 62nd minute Clint Dempsey slipped between the Ghanaian team's defenses, defender Mensah tackled him inside the penalty area, and Hungarian referee Victor Kasai announced a penalty kick to the Americans, in addition to a yellow card given to Ghana national team captain who caused the penalty kick.

Veteran captain of the American national team, London Donovan, set out to take the penalty kick and shot it hard to the left of Ghanaian goalkeeper Richard Kingson, making the score 1-1.

The match ended in a 1-1 draw, so both teams went to extra time.

In the 93rd minute, Asamoah Gyan snatched the ball from among the American defenders and fired it into the goal, announcing Ghana's qualification for the first time in its history to the World Cup quarterfinals.