In the FIFA World Cup, Germany, Ghana, England and the United States have advanced to the Second Round. In a Group D match at Soccer City in Johannesburg yesterday, Germany recorded a narrow one-nil victory over Ghana. Midfielder Mesut Oezil scored the match-winner in the 60th minute in a fast and furious encounter. It was the second win for the three-time champions and they topped the group with six points. In another Group D match in Nelspruit, Australia beat Serbia 2-1. Both Australia and Ghana finished with four points each. But Ghana advanced to the next round on goal difference. Ghana are the only African team to reach the last 16 so far. The Germany-Ghana match saw two brothers – Ghana's Kevin Prince Boating and Germany's Jerome Boateng – face each other for the first time at a World Cup. Earlier, the United States who beat Algeria 1-0 in Pretoria, finished top of Group C. Landon Donovon got the vital winner in the second minute of injury time just as it seemed the US were about to go out of the tournament. England secured the runners-up spot of Group C when Jermain Defoe's opening half goal helped them scrape past Slovenia 1-0. Slovenia who were the group toppers before the start of the match with four points, crashed out of the tournament along with Algeria. Germany will play England in the second round on Sunday in Bloemfontein. Ghana, will play the United States on Saturday in Rustenburg. In the 2010 FIFA World Cup, four matches are scheduled for today. In the Group F matches, beginning at 1930 hours, Slovakia meet Italy in Johannesbsurg, and Paraguay face New Zealand in Polokwane. In the Group E fixtures, starting at Midnight, while Denmark take on Japan in Rustenburg, Cameroon will play the Netherlands in Cape Town.
News On AIR | June 24, 2010 8:30 AM
Germany, Ghana, USA, England qualify for next round in WC Football