ITALY v CZECH REPUBLIC, GHANA v USA - MATCH REPORT
Toby Higgins

Italy were joined by Ghana in the second round after the final games of Group E, at the expense of the USA and the Czech Republic.

Italy ran out comfortable two-nil winners over the Czech's, though Milan Baros had the chance to put his side ahead early on, but his first touch let him down as Gianlugi Buffon smothered his weak shot.

Italy lost centre half Alessandro Nesta in the thirteenth minute to a suspected hamstring injury, but it was his replacement, Inter Milan defender Macro Materazzi, who gave the Azzuri the lead as he rose highest at a corner to head his side in front.

The first half failed to produce many clear cut chances, and the Czechs, who needed to win to have a chance of progressing, soon found their task made harder when holding midfielder Jan Polak was dismissed for two clumsy yellow cards in the space of ten minutes, just before the break.

The second half started with the Czechs replacing veteran star Karel Poborsky with Jiri Stajner, but the ten man Czechs struggled to break down the stubborn Italian defence, and without the injured Jan Koller and only a half fit Baros, they never really threatened.

Substitute Filippo Inzaghi, who missed a free header from six yards in the second half, redeemed himself as he ran the full length of the pitch before rounding Petr Cech to roll the ball home to wrap up Italy's win and secure their place in the last sixteen.

Ghana meanwhile knew they needed to beat the USA to progress irrespective of other results, and were gifted an opener in the twenty second minute, when Claudio Renya was disposed just twenty yards from his own goal line, and Haminu Draman coolly slotted past Kasey Keller to give the African side the lead.

But the USA were level when Damarcus Beasley broke through the Ghana defence and crossed wonderfully for Clint Demsey to fire home for the States, who needed to win to have any chance of progression.

The game turned back towards Ghana though, when two minutes into first half stoppage time, Oguchi Onyewu was adjudged to have fouled striker Razak Pimpong in the area, and Stephen Appiah made no mistake to emphatically restore his side's lead from twelve yards.

As the second half went on, the USA became more stretched in defence as they pushed on for the goals that would keep their tournament, but despite Brian McBride's header that came back off the post, they struggled to create as they crashed out of the World Cup.

Ghana become only the fifth African nation to ever reach the second of the World Cup, behind Morocco, Nigeria, Cameroon, and Senegal, and are likely to face reigning champions Brazil in the knockout round. Italy meanwhile, will wait to see the outcome of Australia against Croatia before finding out the identity of their second round opponents.

The Czech Republic, who were blighted by injuries to key players, failed to live up to their first game demolition of the USA in their next two games as they failed to score a goal after their three nil win over the States, while American proved that the FIFA World Rankings are somewhat misleading, as they failed to live up to their ranking as the fifth best side in the World, and go home having scored only two goals.

Player of the Group: Stephen Appiah - with partner Michael Essien, these two players dictated everything Ghana did, and their powerful approach has been rewarded with a place in round two. Essien will miss the second round game, so Appiah, who scored the goal that guaranteed his nation made it to the second round, will need to be at his best if he hopes to guide his team into the quarter finals.

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