Czech Republic 0
Ghana 2

World Cup debutants Ghana kicked some life back into African football yesterday with a well-deserved Group E 2-0 win over the Czech Republic.

Asamoah Gyan fired Ghana ahead in the second minute of the match and they doubled their advantage eight minutes from time when Sulley Muntari blasted in another.

They could have made the result more emphatic but for a penalty miss by Gyan in the second half.

The foul that led to the penalty also saw Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi red-carded on his 50th appearance for the national side, leaving the pre-match favourites struggling with 10 men for the final 24 minutes.

Following the Ivory Coast's early elimination and a string of disappointing results for Africa's other teams, Ghana bounced back from their own opening defeat to Italy 2-0 with a magnificent display.

Forced to play without injured strikers Jan Koller and Milan Baros, the Czechs, meanwhile, looked a shadow of the team that put three goals past the US without reply in their opener.

Starting the match at a fierce tempo, Ghana won a corner with less than a minute played and forced Petr Cech into an early clearance.

If that was a warning, the Czechs seemed unable to heed with Gyan firing into the net just a few seconds later. Receiving a cross from captain Stephen Appiah, the Modena striker chested the ball down before unleashing a low strike past Cech.

Karel Bruckner's men enjoyed their best moments during the early stages of the second half and thought they had found an equaliser when Pavel Nedved headed home in the 46th minute only for the move to be ruled offside.

Gradually, though, Ghana took charge and enjoyed a succession of chances before their missed penalty.

The dismissal of Ujfalusi after a trip on Matthew Amoah led to a twice-taken penalty from Gyan. He tucked in the first top left but the referee said he had not blown for the kick to be taken and booked him.

The second cannoned off the right post and bounced to a Czech defender.

There was to be no Czech reprieve in the 82nd minute, however, Muntari latching on to a ball on the right of the box and lashing the ball powerfully past Cech and into the roof of the net.

'Cech saved Czechs from drubbing' - Ratomir Dujkovic

Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic said only an outstanding display from goalkeeper Petr Cech saved Czech Republic from a drubbing.

"Petr Cech is an excellent keeper and he stopped it from being four or five-nil," Serb Dujkovic said.

"It was a very tough game but my players played excellently. I was only surprised it wasn't more than 2-0.

"I think the strikers were sometimes a bit tired in front of goal."

Asamoah Gyan said victory had left the way clear for Ghana to clinch their passage into the second round after the final group game against US on Thursday.

"I think everything's open now," said Gyan. "The next game against the US is very important.

"We made up for our mistakes (in the 2-0 defeat against Italy) and we showed we can produce a powerful performance. We were the better team today."

Czech Republic: 1-Cech; 2-Grygera, 6-Jankulovski, 22-Rozehnal, 21-Ujfalusi; 4-Galasek (19-Polak 46), 11-Nedved, 8-Poborsky (17-Stajner 55), 10-Rosicky, 20-Plasil (7-Sionko 69); 12-Lokvenc.

Ghana: 22-Kingston; 15-Paintsil, 13-Mohamed, 5-Mensah, 7-Shilla; 11-Muntari, 8-Essien, 10-Appiah, 20-Addo (9-Boateng 46); 3-Gyan (19-Pimpong 85), 14-Amoah (18-Addo 80).

Referee: Horacio Elizondo (Argentina).

Scorers: Gyan 2, Muntari 82.

Red card: Ujfalusi 66.

Half-time: 1-0.

Att.: 45,000.