Ghana pulled off the biggest upset in the 2006 FIFA World Cup by recording its first victory over the second-ranked team on the FIFA/Coca -Cola World Ranking, Czech Republic 2-0 at the RheinEnergiestadion in Cologne, Germany.
Asamoah Gyan fired Ghana ahead after just 70 seconds, finishing superbly to punish Tomas Ujfalusi’s mistake.
Ujfalusi was later sent off for bringing down Matthew Amoah, but the Czechs had a reprieve as Gyan struck the resulting penalty against the post.
Petr Cech kept Ghana at bay with a string of great saves but the Black Stars sealed the victory with a second when Sulley Muntari rounded off a fine move.
Ghana gave an instant demonstration of their determination to make amends for their error-strewn defeat to Italy by sweeping into the lead inside 70 seconds.
A Ghana corner was cleared only as far as Stephen Appiah whose cross was missed by Ujfalusi and fell for Gyan who finished superbly past Cech from the edge of the box.
The Czech Republic was having problems getting the influential Tomas Rosicky on the ball.
Ghana’s central midfielders Appiah and Michael Essien worked their socks off to negate the threat of Nedved and Rosicky.
The Czechs at last stitched a move together, with Jaroslav Plasil, Rosicky and Nedved combining to set up Poborsky for a cross which Rosicky fired wide.
Czech Republic’s hunger for an equaliser almost proved their undoing as Asamoah Gyan caught them short-handed at the back and it needed a great save Cech to prevent Ghana from doubling their lead.
Match statistics
Czech Republic: Petr Cech, Zdanek Grygera, David Rozehnal, Tomas Ujfalusi, Marek Jankulovski, Karel Poborsky (Jiri Stajner 55), Tomas Galasek (C) (Jan Polak 45), Tomas Rosicky, Jaroslav Plasil (Libor Sionko 68), Pavel Nedved, Vratislav Lokvenc.
Subs Not Used: Pavel Mares, Radoslav Kovac, Martin Jiranek, David Jarolim, Jaromir Blazek, Marek Heinz, Antonin Kinsky, Jan Koller, Milan Baros.
Sent Off: Ujfalusi (66).
Booked: Lokvenc.
Manager: Karel Brückner (Czech Republic)
Ghana: Richard Kingston, John Pantsil, John Mensah, Habib Mohamed, Shilla Illiansu, Michael Essien, Stephen Appiah (C), Sule Muntari, Otto Addo (Derek Boateng 45), Asamoah Gyan (Razak Pimpong 85), Mathew Amoah (Eric Addo 80).
Subs Not Used: Sammy Adjei, Hans Sarpei, Samuel Kuffour, Addoquaye Pappoe, Tachie-Mensah, George Owu, Daniel Quaye, Issah Ahmed, Haminu Dramani.
Booked: Otto Addo, Essien, Gyan, Boateng, Muntari.
Goals: Gyan 2, Muntari 82.
Manager: Ratomir Dujkovi? (Serbia)
Attendance: 45,000.
Referee: Horacio Marcelo Elizondo (Argentina).
FIFA man of the match:Â Michael Essien.
Source:Â Ghana Soccernet