Germany beats Ghana 1-0, wins World Cup group

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — Mesut Oezil scored on a left-footed blast from outside the area Wednesday to give Germany a 1-0 win over Ghana and first place in Group D at the World Cup.

Despite the defeat, Ghana also advanced to the round of 16 – taking second place in the group with four points. Australia also finished with four points, but Ghana was ahead on goal differential.

Ghana is the first African team to make the knockout phase of the tournament.

Australia beats Serbia

NELSPRUIT, South Africa (AP) — Tim Cahill and Brett Holman scored second half goals as Australia beat Serbia 2-1 in the teams’ final World Cup Group D match on Wednesday.

Neither team advanced, however, because Germany beat Ghana 1-0. Both of those teams moved into the second round.

Marko Pantelic pulled a goal back for Serbia, but Australia held on despite a late onslaught.

Cahill put the Australians ahead with a glancing header off Luke Wilkshire’s cross in the 69th minute. Substitute Holman got the second from long range 4 minutes later.

Australia needed to win the match to have any chance of reaching the round of 16 and put on a stirring second-half performance. Serbia, knowing it would need a win if Germany beat Ghana, faded in the second half.

US advances at World Cup with 1-0 win

PRETORIA, June 23 (Reuters) – The United States scored a last-gasp winner to beat Algeria and qualify for the last 16 of the World Cup after a pulsating and even match in which both sides had plenty of chances.

Landon Donovan got the vital U.S. winner in the second minute of injury time.

The Group C match had its first chance within 12 seconds, but Karim Ziani’s volley from outside the penalty box flew just wide of Tim Howard’s goal.

Algeria came close again in the sixth minute with another volley, Rafik Djebbour taking advantage of a mistake by defender Jay DeMerit to send his shot crashing against the bar.

The Americans responded just moments later with a powerful drive by striker Hercules Gomez forcing keeper Rais Ouheb Mbouli to palm away for a corner.

The United States had a goal disallowed late in their 2-2 draw with Slovenia and were frustrated again when Clint Dempsey’s 20th minute tap in from a Gomez assist was judged offside.

Dempsey threatened again on 57 minutes when a Jozy Altidore cross fell to him near the penalty spot, but his curling shot hit the post.

Seven minutes later the United States pushed forward once more when Benny Feilhaber, who came on at halftime for Gomez, put in a dangerous cross which forced Mbouli to a reflex save with his outstretched leg.

The United States looked the more dangerous side, but the Algerians gave them occasional scares such as Hassan Yebda’s 68th minute fierce strike that went wide after a flowing counter-attack.

Donovan put the United States ahead right at the death and there was still time for Antar Yahia to be sent off for a second yellow card.

England beats Slovenia 1-0

PORT ELIZABETH, South Africa (AP) — Jermain Defoe’s goal put much-improved England into the World Cup’s round of 16 with a 1-0 victory over Slovenia.

Recalled to the starting lineup, Defoe knocked in a cross from James Milner in the 23rd minute Wednesday to give England five points from its three Group C games. Slovenia finished with four points.

Looking much more like the soccer power it’s supposed to be, following draws against the United States and Algeria to start the tournament, England played far more aggressively and created more chances against Slovenia.

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AP

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