World Cup: Bloody Americans stay alive, Ghana record stunning win

Americans their first-ever World Cup point in Europe with a 1-1 draw with Italy yesterday. In a match that saw 3 players sent off, Brian McBride bled badly from a vicious elbow and needed 3 stitches. But the Americans gave as good as they got with 2 players sent off. Alberto Gilardino opened the scoring when he got behind the American defence and headed Andrea Pirlo's free kick past Kasey Keller in the 22nd min. The Americans tied the score in the 27th min when Italian defender Cristian Zaccardo knocked Bobby Convey's free kick into the net. Clear mistake by the defender as he had time and space to clear but somehow sliced it into his own net. Then came the red cards! First it was Italy's Daniele De Rossi,in the 28th min. You know, the elbow that split McBride's left cheek. After playing with a man advantage for 17 minutes, it was the Americans who saw red. Midfielder Pablo Mastroeni was off in the 45th minute for a stupid tackle on Pirlo. There was no need to do it! Pirlo was not in a dangerous position and it was the 45th min! Then it took just two minutes of the second half for defender Eddie Pope to get his second yellow card of the game for a tackle from behind againest Gilardino. Againest 9 men, the Italians sent on 3 forwards, but could not get the deciding goal. Which was a fair result as the Americans defended strongly and had a few chances themselves. Keller was very good, making a pair of point-blank stops on Alessandro Del Piero in the final 20 minutes of the match.

Portugal got to the second round for the first time in 40 years with a 2-0 win over Iran. I know, I'm just as surprise as you are! With the players they had, they never even got to the second round for 40 years? Deco scored with a powerful first-time shot from outside the penalty area in the 63rd minute. Blame the ball! The stupid ball who everyone had complained about, curl right after being hit by Deco. Then it went left before curling right again into the net. Stupid! Cristiano Ronaldo made a penalty kick 10 minutes from the end after Luis Figo earned it with a canny play. You know, wait for the defender to slide then fall over him. Penalty!

The result of the day however was the win of Ghana over the Czech Republic. Asamoah Gyan fired Ghana ahead after just 70 seconds, finishing superbly after Tomas Ujfalusi fail to cut out a cross. A cross that was nothing! It was his and the defender just totally missed it. Then in the 65th min, Ujfalusi brought down Matthew Amoah. Argentine referee Horacio Elizondo pointed to the penalty spot, but gave a red card as he was the last defender. The penalty hit the post, giving the Czech a lifeline. But it was not to be as Sulley Muntari rounded off a fine move in the end, catching the Czechs upfield. Ghana's midfield was strong again but this time so was the defence. They made some changes in defence and it worked! For the Czech, Jan Kollor didn't played after the injury in the first game. And boy did they miss him! They are in real danger as their final game is againest the Italians. This win really open the group as all 4 teams (USA, Italy, Ghana, Czech) all have a chance to go on to the second round.