Uruguay 1 Ghana 1 (Uruguay win 4-2 on penalties)

Scorers: Forlan (Uru), Muntari (Gha)

Attendance: 84017

Ghana became the final African team to say goodbye to the 2010 FIFA World Cup™, losing in a dramatic penalty shoot-out to Uruguay after a 1-1 quarter-final draw at Johannesburg's Soccer City. Goalkeeper Fernando Muslera saved efforts from Stephen Appiah and Dominic Adiyiah, before Sebastian Abreu converted the decisive spot-kick for the South Americans, who reach the last four for the first time since 1970.

The Black Stars will have to be content with having become just the third side from the continent to make the quarter-final stage, although they could have won the match with the final kick of extra time after Luis Suarez handled a goal-bound effort on the line. But with Suarez sent off, their top scorer, Asamoah Gyan, smashed a penalty off the bar that would have tipped the scales to the Africans after Sulley Muntari and Diego Forlan had scored either side of half-time.

Uruguay started the match on the front foot, looking dangerous from dead-ball situations and through the dynamic duo of Forlan and Suarez up front. Suarez had the first real chance in the 11th minute when he beat a Ghanaian defender down the the left. He cut into the box but blasted his shot right at goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

Kingson was the hero for the west Africans twice in short succession. In the 18th minute, from Forlan's corner, he reacted quickly to keep out the ball after it deflected off John Mensah and was seemingly destined for the back of the net. Seven minutes later, he rescued another defender, this time Isaac Vorsah, who missed a tackle allowing Suarez in on goal. But the net-minder just got his fingertips to Suarez's effort to push it over acrobatically.

The Black Stars then settled into the match and only narrowly missed going ahead twice near the half-hour mark. From Ghana's first corner, Vorsah headed just wide of the post. A minute later, Gyan skimmed the other post after a strong run and cross from Kevin Prince Boateng. The Portsmouth midfielder almost opened the scoring himself in spectacular fashion in the 45th minute, but his overhead kick in front of goal spun off his foot. However, the west Africans got their breakthrough on the stroke of half-time as Muntari scored with a curling 35-yard shot that seemed to deceive the goalkeeper before finding the left-hand corner.

But if they ended the first period on a high, the Black Stars started the second on a low as Forlan's free-kick from near the left corner of the box fooled Kingson with its swerve in the 55th minute and bulged the net. The Atletico Madrid hit-man continued to play with confidence and in the 63rd minute he brought the ball down well on the left side of the box in a dangerous position. His cross beat Kingson, but Suarez, who had three goals coming into the match, could only volley into the side-netting at the far post.

As the match opened up and both teams searched for a winner, Suarez had another good opportunity in the 71st minute but from a tight angle on the left he could not beat Kingson, who punched over. Uruguay then threatened twice from Forlan free-kicks. First, he screamed in a shot that beat the keeper but went into the side-netting and next he found Suarez in the box, but the Ajax man's header was tipped over.

Ghana had the clearest opportunities in extra time. Gyan flashed an open header over the bar in the 110th minute, and five minutes later, defender Andres Scotti did just enough to scramble the ball away when it looked like the Ghanaian would score. Boateng almost won it minutes from time, but his header screamed agonisingly wide. And then at the death, from a free-kick into the box, Suarez blocked Appiah's shot on the line only to then stop Adiyiah's headed follow-up with his hand to set up Gyan's penalty miss.

With the gasps of a stunned Soccer City still ringing in the ears, Gyan bravely stepped up to immediately convert the first penalty in the shoot-out. Maxi Pereira missed his spot-kick for the Uruguayans, but two consecutive saves by Muslera set up Abreu to be the hero

USA 1 Ghana 2 (After Extra Time)

Scorers: Donovan (USA), Boateng (Gha), Gyan (Gha)

Attendance: 34976

Ghana marched on to the quarter-finals of the 2010 FIFA World Cup™ after emerging 2-1 victors over USA following 120 minutes of drama in Rustenburg. Asamoah Gyan scored the winner in the 93rd minute after Landon Donovan's penalty had cancelled out Kevin Prince Boateng's early opener.

The Black Stars, who are the sole African representative left in the continent's first FIFA World Cup, will now meet Uruguay in Johannesburg on 2 July. They become the third African nation to advance to the last eight of a FIFA World Cup, after Cameroon in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.

The west Africans stunned the US in just the fifth minute after Ricardo Clark had given possession away in midfield. Boateng ran at the defence and, having shifted the ball to the left, beat goalkeeper Tim Howard at his near post with a left-footed shot from the edge of the area. Left reeling, the US were second best until the break. 

Their best in the opening period came in the 35th minute, when Jonathan Mensah gave the ball away in his own third to Clint Dempsey. The Fulham man slid the ball to Robbie Findley, who raced clean through on Richard Kingson, but the goalkeeper reacted well to save with this left foot. Coach Bob Bradley's reaction to a lacklustre first-half performance was to bring on attacking midfielder Benny Feilhaber at half-time, and the move almost paid immediate dividends.

Donovan's pace made the chance down the right, and Jozy Altidore did well with the LA Galaxy player's cross to feed the on-rushing Feilhaber. But Kingson came out aggressively and pulled off a fabulous reaction save. Ghana were being pegged back at this stage, and on the hour mark Dempsey skinned Gyan at the edge of the area and broke free into the box. Mensah clattered into him to concede the penalty, and Donovan calmly slotted in his kick off the inside of the post.

As the second half wore on, the US continued to ask questions of the Ghana defence, but Kingson saved the Black Stars twice in succession. In the 68th minute, he raced 15 yards off his line to clear the ball at Altidore's feet, and eight minutes later he got down well to smother Michael Bradley's shot after the coach's son had beaten the offside trap. Altidore had another chance in the 81st minute, but the defence did just enough to put him off and he fired wide from ten yards.

However, just as they did at the start of the match, Ghana opened the extra time with a goal. The impressive Ayew, son of Ghanaian legend Abedi Pele, spun a long ball with the outside of his left foot into the path of Gyan. The Rennes man held off two defenders and smashed the ball past Howard for his third goal of the tournament and his seventh for his country in 2010.

The US, who scored a dramatic last-gasp winner against Algeria to qualify for the second round, seemed to tire after the goal, and though they sent ball after ball into the Ghana box in the final minutes, they could find no late heroics at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. All of Africa seemed to explode at the final whistle, and the youngest team in the tournament will continue to fly the continent's colours for one more round.

Ghana 0 Germany 1

Scorer: Ozil (Ger)

Attendance: 83391

A second-half Mesut Ozil volley proved enough for Germany to edge Ghana in a riveting, chance-rich contest at Soccer City, where the result proved enough to send both teams into the Round of 16. Joachim Low's side finished as Group D winners to book a date with arch-rivals England, while Milovan Rajevac's charges will now meet USA, after benefitting from Australia's 2-1 defeat of Serbia to go through on goal difference.

It was evident from the outset that both teams were intent on playing adventurous football, and the chances were swift in arriving for Germany. The first fell to Cacau. Racing into the right side of the Ghana box, the Brazil-born 29-year-old struck the ball firmly but straight into the arms of a grateful Richard Kingson, who did well to gather Thomas Muller's cross moments later.

After six minutes a headed clearance dropped to Lukas Podolski, whose first-time strike was deflected wide for a corner, which came to nothing. Almost immediately, the same player sprinted down the left and cut the ball back. Jonathan Mensah, under pressure from Cacau, almost turned it into his own net, but was spared by the diving Kingson. Ghana had their first chance on 13 minutes. Kwadwo Asamoah broke into the Germany box and unselfishly laid the ball back for Asamoah Gyan, whose effort was blocked by Bastian Schweinsteiger.

Midway through the half, Ozil deceived the offside trap and went clean through on goal. The Germany No8 looked odds-on to score, but Kingson spread himself masterfully and made a block with his legs. Ten minutes later it was his outstretched hands that came to Ghana's rescue, repelling a Cacau drive from ten yards.

Andre Ayew expertly crafted a chance on the half-hour mark, a sublime feint allowing him to leave Jerome Boateng in his wake and cross for Gyan, who could not get enough power on his close-range header to trouble Manuel Neuer. The final opportunity of the opening 45 fell to Gyan, who outjumped his marker but was unable to keep his header down. The referee's whistle, which could barely be heard for the immense noise inside Soccer City, then brought a compelling opening period to a close.

The Germans emerged intent on breaking the deadlock. However, despite being camped inside the Ghana half and dominating possession, they were unable to test Kingson in the opening five minutes. The Black Stars, by contrast, required just one attack to force Neuer into action. Gyan sent Asamoah through on goal, but his shot was expertly saved by the sprawling German No1.

The three-time world champions made their adversaries pay on the hour mark. Muller collected the ball on the right flank and played it square to Ozil, who was centrally positioned, two yards outside the area. The Werder Bremen playmaker touched the ball into the path of his left boot, and casually volleyed it past Kingson and just inside his right-hand post.

Ghana, undeterred, refused to accept defeat. Gyan headed into the side-netting on 64 minutes, before back-heeling the ball into the path of Ayew, whose goal-bound shot was crucially blocked by Philipp Lahm. The Europeans played more conservatively thereafter, and their ball retention kept Ghanaian opportunities at a minimum. Sulley Muntari had a half-chance for the west Africans, but his speculative shot from 25 yards flew over the bar.

Sami Khedira, Ozil and Podolski, so adept at finding white shirts with their passes, managed to play the clock down until the final whistle sparked German celebrations. Seconds later, upon hearing of Australia's defeat of Serbia, Ghanaian arms were also flung jubilantly in the Johannesburg air. Germany will now face England in Mangaung/Bloemfontein on Sunday for a place in the quarter-finals, while Ghana will take on USA in Rustenburg 24 hours earlier. 

Ghana 1 Australia 1

Scorers: Gyan (Gha), Holmann (Aus)

Attendace: 34812

Ghana were held to a 1-1 draw by ten-man Australia at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium, but moved to the top of Group D with four points from two matches. The west Africans could not take advantage of the first-half dismissal of Harry Kewell to claim maximum points, but managed to lift themselves above Serbia and Germany in the section.

Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac was forced to reshuffle his rearguard due to an injury to Isaac Vorsah, with Jonathan Mensah, who had sufficiently recovered from injury, forming a centre-back partnership with Lee Addy. For his part, Australia coach Pim Verbeek made no fewer than four changes to the side that had been overrun 4-0 by Germany. Harry Kewell started in place of the suspended Tim Cahill up front, with left-back David Carney brought in for Scott Chipperfield. In midfield, Richard Garcia and the injured Vince Grella were replaced by Mark Bresciano and Brett Holman respectively.

After some nervy opening exchanges in front of the watching Germany coach Joachim Low, the Socceroos got the first chance of note on 11 minutes and they duly converted it. Mark Bresciano’s powerful free-kick from 30 yards was only parried by Richard Kingson, with the ball falling kindly for the onrushing Brett Holman, who gleefully fired in the first goal of the tournament for the Aussies.

Ghana struggled for fluency early on and they had to wait a further ten minutes for their first serious attempt on goal, with Andre Ayew’s shot from the edge of the area stopped only by a crucial Lucas Neil interception. However, the Black Stars soon restored parity in a moment that proved a hammer blow to Australia's hopes. Asamoah Gyan equalised from the spot after Kewell was adjudged to have stopped Mensah’s shot with his right arm – the Socceroos No10 earning a red card on his long-awaited return after injury. Prince Tagoe then had a chance to put his side into a lead minutes later, but he drilled the ball well wide of the left post.

Ghana surged forward in search of their second goal with half-time approaching, and Kevin-Prince Boateng’s shot from the right side of the area only narrowly failed to find the mark, Mark Schwarzer making a fingertip save. The Black Stars began the second half where they left off in the first, with Kwadwo Asamoah and Gyan trying their luck from distance.

Fleet-footed forward Quincy Owusu-Abeyie was brought on for Tagoe just before the hour, but the Ghanaians could not find a breakthrough against a resilient Australia defence. For their part, Australia called on Joshua Kennedy in an attempt to take control in the air and they had chances to win the match. Substitute Chipperfield headed over from a Luke Wilkshire cross and Wilkshire himself spurned a glorious opportunity after 72 minutes, shooting straight at Kingson. The Wigan Athletic goalkeeper then did well to stop a volley from Kennedy.

Despite their numerical disadvantage, Australia kept on attacking and Verbeek also sent on striker Nikita Rukavytsya for Wilkshire. At the opposite end, though, the Black Stars might have scored a late winner but Mensah’s header went just wide of the right post and Owusu-Abeyie’s curling shot was tipped over by Schwarzer.

Serbia 0 Ghana 1

Scorer: Gyan (GHA)

Attendance: 38833

An 83rd-minute Asamoah Gyan penalty snatched Ghana a deserved 1-0 victory over Serbia in their Group D opener at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium. The Black Stars, despite having the better of the play, appeared en route to a goalless draw until the Beli Orlovi hit the self-destruct button late on, with Aleksandar Lukovic earning himself a red card before Zdravko Kuzmanovic’s needless handball presented the Africans with the spot-kick from which they seized the three points.

The game got off to a lively start, with Gyan firing a free-kick narrowly over from the edge of the box before Prince Tagoe shot wide. Ghana continued to press forward. Kwadwo Asamoah’s 18th-minute set-piece found the head of Mensah, who was unable to direct it on target, while Gyan, from six yards out, was just inches from connecting with Boateng’s teasing cross two minutes later when the slightest of touches would have surely broken the deadlock.

Serbia spurned a golden opportunity on 26 minutes. Milijas curled a set-piece into the path of Pantelic, who had cleverly spun and lost his marker to find space inside the penalty area. However, the Ajax forward’s control deserted him and the ball went out for a goal-kick. Soon after, Kolarov curled a firmly-stuck free-kick narrowly wide of the post.

Ghana emerged from the break in determined mood and proceeded to monopolise possession. The opportunities duly began to flow. Eight minutes after the restart, Tagoe curled a delightful ball to the back post, but the unmarked Ayew somehow failed to hit the target with a close-range header. With the half-hour mark approaching, Gyan stole in front of Vidic to head the ball against the post from five yards, and Tagoe then volleyed wide a difficult chance at the back post.

With 16 minutes remaining, Ghana gained a numerical advantage. Lukovic, who had already been booked, held back Gyan and was consequently given a second yellow card. This, curiously, spurred Serbia into life and when Marko Pantelic’s mishit shot fell inviting into the path of Krasic, the CSKA Moscow winger should have done better then shooting straight at goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

Milovan Rajevac’s side swiftly regained control, though, and got the reward they merited seven minutes from time. There appeared no danger when an overhit cross from the left travelled towards Kuzmanovic, but he inexplicably handled it to afford Ghana a glorious chance to clinch victory. And that Gyan did, thumping the ball down the middle and into the back of the net.

The scorer then hit the post late on, but that will have done little to dampen his delight on an afternoon when he walked away with the Budweiser Man of the Match Award, Ghana put three points on the board and Africa got its first victory of this FIFA World Cup

Serbia: 1.Stojkovic, 3. Kolarov, 5. Vidic, 6. Ivanovic, 9. Pantelic, 10. Stankovic, 11. Milijas, 13. Lukovic, 14. Jovanovic, 15. Zigic, 17. Krasic

Subs Used: 8. Lazovic, 20. Subotic, 22. Kuzmanovic

Ghana: 22. Kingson, 2. Sarpei, 3. Gyan, 4. Pantsil, 5. Mensah, 6. Annan, 12. Tagoe, 13. Ayew, 15. Vorsah, 21. Asamoah, 23. Boateng

Subs Used: 10. Appiah, 19. Addy, 20. Owusu-Abeyie