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World Cup: Germany vs. Ghana: Germany wins, 1-0

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Germany beat Ghana, 1-0, after a second-half goal from Mesut Oezil to win Group D and set up a second-round World Cup clash with traditional rival England.

Ghana also advanced despite Wednesday’s loss at Soccer City and became the first African team to make the round of 16 at the first World Cup tournament held on the continent.

Germany won the group with six points and Ghana was second with four, going through on goal difference thanks to Australia’s 2-1 victory over Serbia in the other match.

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Oezil rifled a left-footed shot from outside the area into the left corner of the net to break the deadlock in the 60th minute after both teams had wasted a number of chances.

‘I simply shot the ball,’ said Oezil, who was voted man of the match. ‘I had a lot of support from my teammates. It doesn’t matter whom we play next, we have to keep winning.’

Once the scoreboard had flashed the result of the other match, Ghana players celebrated their progress, waving the country’s flag and running to the corner where their supporters were.

The Black Stars went through thanks to their 1-0 win over Serbia and a 1-1 draw with Australia.

‘It was a very difficult match but we fought and it was enough to get us through,’ said Ghana midfielder Andre Ayew. ‘We had opportunities but the important thing is that we went through.’

England finished second in Group C, behind the United States, and will now face the Germans in Bloemfontein on Sunday. Ghana will play the United States on Saturday in Rustenburg.

‘There is no time to celebrate, the next match is very close,’ Ghana Coach Milan Rajevac said. ‘We knew it would be a tough match because to try to qualify against Germany is really hard. We played quite well, we resisted well, we had some chances but they had to win and they showed that they are among the best teams in the world.’

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Germany had been in danger of failing to advance from the group stage for the first time, but the three-time champions had the upper hand throughout the match, without taking unnecessary risks.

Ghana also had some chances and Kwadwo Asamoah ran through in the 51st minute but shot weakly at goalkeeper Manuel Neuer.

Oezil was clear in the 25th but Ghana goalie Richard Kingson blocked his shot.

In the first half, Ghana’s Asamoah Gyan had a header from a corner cleared at the post by Philipp Lahm, and Kevin-Prince Boateng’s header was wide.

Jerome Boateng, Kevin-Prince’s half-brother, played for Germany. The two had little contact during the game.

It was Kevin-Prince’s foul in the English FA Cup final that forced Germany captain Michael Ballack out of the tournament with an injury.

Coach Joachim Loew had said before the game that Germany would not target Kevin-Prince. Jerome Boateng, who was making his World Cup debut, had said before the game that the half-brothers had not spoken to each other since the start of the tournament.

Rajevac said Kevin-Prince Boateng’s performance was ‘fantastic.’

‘It was important for him not to get cautioned and keep his cool,’ the Ghana coach said. ‘I thought the German players were extremely polite with him.’

The two players have the same Ghanaian father and different German mothers. They were born and grew up in Germany, and Kevin-Prince played for Germany’s junior teams before switching allegiance.

-- Associated Press

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