Ghana’s Black Stars have beaten the USA 2-1 in a thrilling last match in Group E in Nüremburg on Thursday which sees the Black Stars progress to the knockout stages in their first ever appearance in the World Cup Finals.

A superb strike from Haminu Draman, making his first start in a World Cup Finals match, scored halfway through the first-half to give the Ghana Black Stars a deserved lead, but against the run-of-play, the US pulled a goal back in the dying minutes. A last minute penalty from Stephen Appiah restored the lead for Ghana after a dubious penalty decision.

Ghana, knowing they would progress to the knockout stages with a win, came out of the traps very quickly and gave a slight shock to Bruce Arena’s US team, who also knew they had a chance of making it to the knockout stages.

The US know they have to win and rely on Italy beating Czech Republic to have any chance of progressing.

The game started off brightly, with both teams pressing for an opener.

In the 22nd minute Ghana got their breakthrough when Haminu Draman stole the ball from Team USA captain and Manchester City midfielder Claudio Reyna, who went down in the challenge, and steamed towards Kasey Keller’s goal.

He he then scored with a superb long-range right-footed strike that flew past Keller and in at the far post to make it 1-0 to the jubilant Black Stars.

Razak Pimpong had a wonderful chance to double the score-line when he was played a lovely through-ball from Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien and broke through the USA defence, but his shot went just-wide.

Ghana were definitely the team in control of the first-half, with the USA looking completely at odds with the pace and athleticism of the World Cup debutantes.

Both teams had chances on the break as the half-progressed, but nothing came of them, but with The Black Stars always possessing the biggest threat on the counter-attack.

Reyna was substituted for Ben Olsen in the 40th minute and immediately fouled Essien in a dangerous area, but John Pantsil miscued his shot.

In the dying minutes of the half, and completely against the run-of-play, Clint Dempsey latched on to a ball from DaMarcus Beasley, and smashed the ball past Richard Kingston in the Ghana goal.

A penalty in injury-time from Stephen Appiah restored the lead for Ghana after a dubious penalty decision when Pantsil was adjudged to have been brought down in the box by defender Oguchi Onyewu.

The game went into half-time 2-1, with Ghana the stronger team and deserving the lead.

The second-half started with a fraction of the pace of the first, with both teams tentatively feeling around for an opener.

Matthew Amoah had a screamer of a shot from 25-yards saved well by Keller in the 55th minute.

Draman had a great chance to score his second goal in the 63rd minute when he broke the US offside trap, but his pass was blocked and he skied the rebound.

For the USA, Brian McBride had a header hit the post just a minute later, with Oguchi Onyewu having another headed chance go high as the US started to push for an equaliser.

Bobby Convey was brought on for Eddie Lewis with 15 minutes to go and earned a dangerous free-kick in the 80th minute, but the free-kick was wasted.

Pimpong had a glorious chance saved by Keller soon after, as news filtered through that Italy had scored a second goal against the 10-men of the Czech Republic, but they couldn’t find their chances.

Ghana were defending beautifully and almost finished the game off in the dying minutes after an attack on the break, but Essien’s shot hit a team-mate to deny him.

Ghana held on to win the game and progress to the knockout stages on their very first attempt, and will probably face Brazil in the first-round of sixteen.

Chesea defender Michael Essien will be devastated to miss the next game (against Brazil) after receiving his second yellow-card in the first-half.