Germany seal their place for the knockout phase

Johannesburg: Germany managed to score 1-0 against Ghana and hold on with their lead to finish on top of Group D and qualify for last 16 at Johannesburg.
The Germans started very positively as they had to win to ensure their place in the last 16. While Ghana just needed a draw and started off cautiously.

Germany were without Miroslav Klose who was suspended for the match and they were playing with Brazilian born Cacau.
In the 10th minute, Podolski crossed a ball from the left which took a wicked deflection towards the goal but Richard Kingson showed good reflex action to stop the ball from entering the goal. Till the first 11th minute Germany were enjoying 66 per cent possession.

Ghana however, were coming back into the contest slowly. Kwadwo Asamoah put a lovely back in for Gyan in the 14th minute for Ghana but Asamoah Gyan was a little too slow to trigger his shot allowing the German defender to block him. Ghana were on occasions putting those dangerous balls and testing the German defense.
Philip Lahm in the 21st minute made a probing run in the Ghana penalty box but could not find final space to make his shot.

In the 25th minute Mesut Oezil for Germany had a golden chance to go put Germans ahead as he had just the keeper to beat but effort was denied by Kingson.

In the 26th minute Ghana player got a header which was heading for the German far-post towards the goal but was cleared by Lahm on the line.

The game was looking open with both teams creating good chances at that moment of play.

Ghana put good crosses from the flanks but the strikers were not really able to test the German goal keeper.

In the 41st minute Bastian Schweinsteiger hit a testing freekick, which was again denied by Kingson.

Germany again started off well in the second half, holding good possession.
But it was Ghana who got the first golden opportunity in the 51st min against the run of play, Kwadwo Asamoah got a golden opportunity, but his shot was denied by German goal keeper.

Oezil made up for his earlier miss with a terrific left-footed drive from just outside the penalty box in the 60th minute giving an all important opening goal for Germany.

Keeper Kingson who had been impressive all night long for Ghana had no chance whatsoever.

Ghana with a goal down came up with a golden chance after some breathtaking soft touches in the German penalty box in the 67th minute with Andre Ayew taking a

shot at goal but German captain Philipp Lahm made a brilliant last minute stretch to deny Ayew's shot.

In the end the Ghana camp was pushing forward for the equalizer as they had to draw the match to ensure their place in the last 16 but were unable to break the German defense. Luckily for the them, Serbia lost against Australia in the other match that was being played and they managed to make to the last 16 with better goal difference finishing in second place ahead of Australia in the group.

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