The last African team in the 2010 World Cup Finals hoped to become the first to reach the semi-finals.

The first twenty minutes belonged to Uruguay; Diego Forlan's set pieces and the nervous Ghana defence. It wasn't until Richard Kingson tipped the ball over the bar from Luis Suarez, in the 27th minute, that Ghana really woke up.

Then, from a corner in the 29th minute, Ghana kept the pressure on. Kwadwo Asamoah dropped back a little, Kevin-Prince Boateng moved up alongside Asamoah Gyan and Ghana started to look more promising.

With two minutes added on, Ghana pushed forward a final time before the break.

There didn't really seem much urgency in their movement, as Asamoah Gyan helped the ball along; into the path of Sulley Muntari. Fernando Muslera was seen moving one way, so Muntari sent the ball the other.

Half-time: 0:1

Ten minutes into the second-half, Diego Forlan's direct free-kick brought Uruguay back into the game. Richard Kingson didn't really give himself much of a chance when he started to move; especially when Jabulani had an extra move itself.

Asamoah Gyan almost put Ghana back in front, but Muslera was down quick to keep the ball out.

Twenty minutes from time, Uruguay probably put together of their best moves; Kingson saving from Suarez.

Uruguay looked fresher towards the end of normal time; Ghana just seemed to be hanging on.

Not only were Ghana the third African team to reach the quarter-finals, they also became the third African team to take their quarter-final match into extra-time.

Uruguay probably should have had a penalty in the first period of extra-time, but Pantsil was lucky to get away with sticking his foot out.

With both teams visibly tired, the Dutch players must be licking their lips.

Stephen Appiah missed the chance to avoid the penalty shoot-out by trying to control the ball instead of just throwing his head at it.

Then Gyan couldn't get the better of Andrés Scotti; Kevin-Prince Boateng headed wide and then drama of all dramas as Luis Suarez was sent off for handling the ball on the line in the 120th minute and the normally assured Asamoah Gyan crashed the penalty onto the crossbar.

Now to the real penalties.

Penalties:

Uruguay went first.

1:0 Diego Forlan - Calmly struck.
1:1 Asamoah Gyan - Courageously went first and scored.
2:1 Mauricio Victorino - Blasted into the roof of the net.
2:2 Stephen Appiah - Scored just above the keeper's gloves.
3:2 Andrés Scotti - Hesitated but low and through the middle.
3:2 John Mensah - No run up. Easily saved.
3:2 Maxi Pereira - Shoots miles over.
3:2 Dominic Adiyiah - Saved.
4:2 Sebastian Abreu - Cool customer scored light and easy.

Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 After Extra Time (4:2 pens)

Ghana are Africa's last remaining team in the 2010 World Cup and hope to become the third African team to reach the quarter-finals; following in the football boots of Cameroon (Italy 1990) and Senegal (Korea-Japan 2002).

Inside five minutes, Ghana forced Team USA to try and come from behind again.

Ricardo Clark lost the ball around the halfway line allowing Kevin-Prince Boateng to take the ball and run the length of the pitch; eventually shooting the ball low, between a late-diving Tim Howard and his right post.

Ricardo Clark then picked up a yellow card for a hot-headed challenge; clearly frustrated for giving the goal away.

Another yellow card ten minutes later, this time for Steve Cherundolo on the edge of the US area, and Tim Howard redeemed himself by saving the Asamoah Gyan free-kick.

The volume of the vuvuzelas increased in the thirty-fifth minute, in appreciation of Richard Kingson's left-foot save from Robbie Findley.

Two minutes later and it was Tim Howard's turn to save from a fast approaching Kwadwo Asamoah.

Half-time: 0:1

Half-time substitute, Benny Feilhaber, was into the Ghanaian penalty area early; forcing Richard Kingson into a left-hand and foot combination save.

Team USA started the second-half brightly, picking holes in the Ghana defence on a number of occasions; but the United States lacked the final player to connect, or were denied by the ever alert Richard Kingson.

Just after the hour, United States were back in the game, after Jonathan Mensah fouled Clint Dempsey in the penalty area. Landon Donovan sent Kingson the wrong way but looked stunned for a second; when the ball hit the post, then the back of the net.

A minute after Asamoah Gyan tried to aim a glancing header into the USA top corner, the Americans looked composed going forward, smartly releasing Michael Bradley behind the Ghana back line. The bosses so probably shot too early and Kingson held the ball on the ground comfortably.

Jozy Altidore had a great chance to put the United States in front, with ten minutes to go; but, in stretching to beat the pursuing Mensah, scuffed the turf and skewed his shot.

Teams would normally be dragging out time with substitutions at such a late stage of the game, but with extra-time looming both managers still hard one option available to them.

Ghana had a chance to score with the last corner of the game but fluffed it and both teams would have another thirty minutes to try and get a result.

Into Extra Time.

Bob Bradley made his final substitution at the start of extra-time; looking for fresh legs up front, Herculez Gomez on for Jozy Altidore.

But it was a long ball upfield by Andre Ayew that brought the breakthrough; Asamoah Gyan sprinting shoulder to shoulder with Carlos Bocanegra. Bocanegra tried to nudge Gyan of the ball; the Ghanaian stumbled slightly but ploughed on, to fire over Tim Howard before Jay DeMerit could get back to help.

It had been pleasing to see two teams play the game of football like men; not rolling around and trying to con the referee - until the second period of extra-time.

Hungary's Viktor Kassai has also played his part in deciding what has been fair challenges. Maybe the call on Andre Ayew for clipping heels was a close one.

It's all about nerves in the last ten minutes of extra-time, and some were starting to fray. The United States continued to push; there were still seconds on the clock and even Tim Howard came up to put himself about.

At the end of a great evening in Rustenburg, Ghana become the third African team to reach the quarter-finals and perhaps England can think themselves lucky that they didn't top the group and have to play them.

USA 1 Ghana 2

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.

Ghana 1 Australia 1

This is the first time that Serbia play Ghana; Europe's dark horses vs probably Africa's strongest 2010 World Cup contenders - with Serbs managing both teams.

Ghana started the game strongly and Serbia were physically there to match them.

A nice start to Group D but the first-half lacked a goal.

Half-time: 0:0

The half-time team talk didn't really inspire Serbia as Ghana continued where they left off; taking the game to the Europeans.

The much-criticised 2010 World Cup ball came closest to going in the net on the hour; when Asamoah Gyan rose above Aleksandar Lukovic to head John Paintsil's long throw-in, against the post.

A second yellow card for Aleksandar Lukovic reduced Serbia to ten men with 15 minutes to go.

The loss of a central defender forced Radomir Antic to replace midfielder, Milan Jovanovic with Borussia Dortmund's Neven Subotic.

Rather than just sit back, Serbia tried to snatch a quick goal; Milos Krasic forcing a corner and Nemanja Vidic heading over the bar.

After Branislav Ivanovic tried another attack on the Ghana goal, the Serbian defence at the other end lost their heads; or rather, Zdravko Kuzmanovic used his hand instead of his head to clear the ball - then protested to the referee.

After a tense wait, Asamoah Gyan cracked the penalty into the roof of the net.

In time added on Gyan almost doubled the score when he hit the post but Ghana did more than enough to secure the first Africa win in the first African World Cup Finals; to guarantee a noisy night in Pretoria.

Serbia 0 Ghana 1