Australia have been making life difficult for themselves throughout this World Cup, but they may have rescued their campaign on Saturday.
The Aussies earned a 1-1 tie against Ghana in Rustenburg, despite being a man down for most of the match. The tie came just days after the Socceroos played with 10 men in a thrashing by Germany.
The draw hands Australia their first point in group play and gives them hope of progressing past the group stages. Ghana go top of the group and hold a single point advantage over Germany and Serbia.
The match featured a nightmare return for Aussie veteran Harry Kewell, who was making his first appearance for the Socceroos since January. Kewell was ejected in the 24th minute after handling the ball in the penalty box, and Ghana's Asamoah Gyan scored with the resulting penalty kick.
Ironically, Kewell had been drafted in as a replacement for Tim Cahill, who was ejected in the loss to Germany, but his return to the field was short-lived. Stationed on the goal line during a Ghana attack, Kewell blocked Jonathan Mensah's shot with his arm for an easy PK call and a straight-red decision from the referee.
Kewell's red card soured what was a dream start for the Aussies, who took the lead in the 10th minute after Brett Holman pounced on a goalkeeping error.
Mark Bresciano fired a free kick from 25 yards out that penetrated the wall, possibly taking a deflection on the way. Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson couldn't get a hold of the shot, and Holman was first to the rebound, burying his shot into the net.
However, Ghana's young offense continued to pressure, and they won their penalty kick—as well as their man advantage and their equalizing goal—after good work on the flank by Prince Tagoe.
However, the Black Stars lacked patience going forward and squandered most of the chances with speculative long-shots that either went high and wide, or were confidently saved by Aussie goalkeeper Mark Schwarzer.
Gyan sent a fizzing shot across goal midway through the second half that no one could get on the end of, while Sulley Muntari's free kick to the back post was headed over the bar by Johnny Mensah.
Australia waited until late in the game to exploit Ghana's young, and often times sloppy, defense. Substitute Scott Chipperfield rose high to meet a floating cross but headed wide. Luke Wilkshire then wasted a giveaway from the Ghana back four when Kingson blocked his shot.
Both sides enjoyed a flurry of late chances, but neither could convert as the match wound down to a stalemate finish.
SCORING SUMMARY:
AUS: Holman, 11th minute
GHA: Gyan, 25th minute
LINEUPS:
AUSTRALIA: Schwarzer, Neill, Moore, Culina, Emerton, Wilkshire (Rukavytsya), Kewell, Holman, Valeri, Carney, Bresciano (Chipperfield)
GHANA: Kingson, Sarpei, Gyan, Pantsil, Annan, J. Mensah, Tagoe (Owusu-Obeiye), Ayew, Addy, Asamoah (Muntari), Boateng (Amoah)
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