Gyan on the spot for victorious Ghana

Asamoah Gyan kept his nerve to convert from the penalty spot five minutes from time and give Ghana a 1-0 victory against ten-man Serbia in Pretoria.

Radomir Antić's side were second best for much of the opening FIFA World Cup Group D encounter and their task was made all the more difficult when Aleksandar Luković was dismissed 16 minutes from time. Ghana made their numerical advantage count, Gyan finishing emphatically from the spot after Zdravko Kuzmanović had been penalised for handling a cross into the penalty area.

Ghana's Serbian coach Milovan Rajevac saw his side take the game by the scruff of the neck from the off as the four-time African Cup of Nations winners dominated in midfield. A high-octane opening period was only sporadically punctuated by sightings on goal for either team, though. Kwadwo Asamoah came closest for Ghana on 15 minutes but new Birmingham City FC recruit Nikola Žigić managed to deflect the ball wide.

Serbia's main threat appeared to be from set pieces but it was their opponents who had the first clear-cut chance to break the deadlock after the interval, Gyan's close-range header striking the frame of Vladimir Stojković's goal.

Luković's dismissal looked likely to negate any threat from Serbia but Antić's charges forced Richard Kingson into a fine save soon after, Miloš Krasić the man whose rasping shot was kept out.

That was as good as it got for Serbia as Gyan did the necessary with his spot kick and nearly doubled his side's lead in added time only for his curling shot to hit the post. Ghana will look to build on that win against Australia on Saturday, while Germany are next up for Serbia on Friday.