Soccer: Ghana beat Czechs for first African win at finals

COLOGNE - Ghana, fired up by an early goal, has beaten the Czech Republic 2-0 to record the first win by an African team at the 2006 soccer World Cup finals.

Ghana stunned the Czechs with a second-minute goal in their Group E match, Asamoah Gyan netting from a Stephen Appiah cross that Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi failed to intercept.

The Africans attacked persistently and missed a hatful of chances, including a Gyan penalty in the 66th minute after Ujfalusi was sent off, but sealed their win eight minutes from time through Sulley Muntari.

The result throws the group wide open. Both Ghana and the Czechs have three points from two games. Italy, who have three, play the United States, who have no points, in Kaiserslautern later.

African teams had disappointed at the finals with just two draws and five defeats in seven games before the Ghana victory.

- REUTERS