Ghana have taken an astonishing, but well deserved 1-0 lead into half-time in their Group E World Cup match against the Czech Republic on Saturday.

Ghana scored their first-ever goal in the World Cup Finals after Modena striker Asamoah Gyan smashed the opening goal in the second minute.

The Ghana Black Stars took an astonishing lead against the heavily fancied Czech Republic with Asamoah Gyan scoring in less than 75 seconds of the match after beautifully bringing down a cross from the halfway line and striking it past Czech Republic and Chelsea keeper Petr Cech.

His Chelsea team-mate, Michael Essien was relishing his space in midfield and for the first ten minutes of the match the World Cup debutantes had the majority of possession before the Czech’s began to find their feet.

Pavel Nedved had a shot on goal easily saved by the Ghana keeper Richard Kingston, who saw little of the ball in the opening period.

Ghana’s captain Stephen Appiah had a shot go just wide in the 14th minute from long-range, which forced Cech to dive. The Czech’s just couldn’t get any control in midfield, without giving the Czech’s any space to play.

Zdenek Grygera was forced into a couple of clearances as the Ghanaians pushed, but Otto Addo received the first caution of the match after a lunge on Jaroslav Plasil, but the Czech’s failed to capitalise.

Both sides pushed, but mostly had long-range shots that were easily saved, with Ghana tackling hard and never giving any space to the Czech Republic.

Karel Poborsky had a shot cross past the goal at the half-hour mark, but on the break Gyan passed beautifully to captain Amoah, who turned well but couldn’t get his shot on target.

The Czech’s had a couple of half-chances that were easily dealt with by the athletic Black Stars, but the Czech’s had more spark to their play as the half came to a close.

Stephen Appiah came very close again in the 40th minute, with a 30-yard strike that went just wide and had Petr Cech rooted to the spot, watching it go just inches wide of his right-post.

Arsenal’s new signing Tomas Rosicky came close to equalising in injury-time, but his shot went harmlessly wide.

Ghana deserved the half-time lead, with the Czech republic needing to step up a gear to get anything from the match.

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