FIRST PENALTY GIVES AFRICA FIRST WIN

A late penalty converted by Asamoah Gyan gave Ghana a narrow victory over Serbia in the opening match of Group D.

The penalty was correctly awarded for a handball by Serbian midfielder Zdravko Kuzmanovic and is the first of the 2010 World Cup. Ghana's victory is also the first victory for an African nation at this World Cup, the first to take place on African soil.

Ghana had showed more enterprise during the game and deserved to take the three points. Serbia finished the match with ten men following the dismissal of Aleksander Lukovic for a second bookable offence ten minutes before the penalty.