Italy have gone into half-time 1-0 up against Ghana’s Black Stars in their Group E encounter in Hannover.

AC Milan’s Andrea Pirlo scored the goal after 40 minutes of a hard fought first period, which saw chances from both sides.

Daniel de Rossi forced a save from Ghana keeper Richard Kingston in the 6th minute, with the Azzurri captain Fabio Cannavaro heading high minutes later, but the Ghanains continued to press the Italian defence.

Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien was fouled by de Rossi in the 11th minute, just outside the area, which from the resulting kick from Ghana captain hit the wall and Italy went on the break, with a lovely run of play which saw Luca Toni slide-in on a great reverse pass, with the goal gaping, but he missed the ball and the keeper saved.

The pressure was then put on from both teams, with Totti shooting high, but then Allessandro Nesta having to make a vital clearance from a John Pantsil cross which was bound for the head of Matthew Amoah.

Italy were having the majority of chances on goal, but were consistently denied by the superb last-minute tackles and the resulting corners were never capitalised on enough.

Luca Toni had a long-range shot rattle of the crossbar, but the Ghanains were quick to attack on the break, and were constantly a threat.

Ghana came close twice in the first 30 minutes with Asamoah Gyan having a strike from 20-yards that went just wide, much to the relief of the Azzurri keeper Gianluigi Buffon and Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien

Emmanuel Pappoe had the best chance of the half for Ghana with a strike that looked bound for the top right of the goal.

Italy then started piling on the pressure, with a string of free-kicks and corners, but the World Cup debutantes held out.

Totti forced another fine save from Kingston minutes later, with a 40-yard screamer that the Black Stars keeper tipped over the bar.

The danger on the break was always there from Ghana, with Ratomir Dujkovic’s men using the flanks well and never giving the Italian’s any time on the ball.

AC Milan’s Andrea Pirlo finally made the pressure tell and broke the deadlock in the 40th minute, after a corner was played short to him and he unleashed a vicious strike from outside the penalty area which flew through the tangle of bodies and past Kingston to make it 1-0.

The two sides went into half-time with Italy head coach Marcello Lippi surely relieved that Ghana didn’t find a way through in the first-half.

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