Ghana strikes twice in first half, holds on for 2-1 victory over Australia

In a group D match between Ghana and Australia, it was the Aussies who had everything to play for, having a chance at a quarterfinal berth with a win over the Black Queens. But it was the African side who showed most of the energy and drive, and two first half goals by Alberta Sackey held up as Ghana won their first-ever Women's World Cup match, a 2-1 victory over Australia in front of 19,132 at Portland's PGE Park. Heather Garriock had the lone goal for the Aussies.

Right from the opening whistle, it was Ghana that maintained most of the control in the first half, although both teams traded shots in the first 10 minutes. In the 15th minute, it was Ghana that had the first good scoring chance, when a through ball from Patience Sackey had Mavis Dgajmah in alone, but her shot from 15 yards out was tipped just over the crossbar. One minute later, Adjoa Baylor had a good look from near the top of the box, but her hard shot blasted off the crossbar and was cleared by the Australian defense.

Australia had their first good look at goal in the 29th minute when Danielle Small made a run into the box off a pass from near midfield, but her shot from 15 yards out was right at Ghana goalkeeper Memunatu Sulemana. On the ensuing counterattack, Ghana had a golden opportunity to take the lead when Sackey's shot from 18 yards out forced a tip over the bar from Australian goalkeeper Melissa Barbieri, and the Aussie keeper was forced to make a sprawling save off a Sackey header after the subsequent corner kick.

In the 34th minute, the pressure being applied by the Black Queens finally paid off, when Sackey's shot from just outside the box found the upper right corner to put Ghana up 1-0.

Six minutes later, the Ghana side widened the lead to 2-0, when Sackey made a run into the box and took a hard shot from 12 yards out that forced a save from Barbieri, but the ball was loose near the line and forced a clearance by Dianne Alagich. But the attempt to clear the ball wide instead went right back to Sackey, who quickly controlled the ball and blasted into the empty net to put Ghana up 2-0, which would be the score at the half.

The Aussies came out of the locker room pressing Ghana as the second half began, and in the 48th minute, Kelly Golebiowski had a good look from just outside the box but her shot was just over the bar. In the 55th and 57th minutes, Ghana had two good chances widen the lead on shots by Dgajmah, but her first shot was just over the bar from 18 yards out, and the second one was blocked wide by the Aussie defense off a shot from near the penalty spot.

In the 61st minute, Aussie finally pulled a goal back, when a diagonal through ball from Golebiowski found Heather Garriock streaking down the left side, and the Aussie striker hit a first time shot low to the bottom left corner to pull back to within 2-1.

In the 72nd minute, Golebiowski had a good look from inside the box, but her shot from 10 yards out was blocked wide by a now packed-in Ghana defense. Over the next several minutes, Australia had three dangerous crosses that bounced through the box, but the Aussie strikers were not able get a foot on the ball to direct it towards net.

In the 76th minute, a powerful Sackey shot forced a save from the Australian keeper to keep the game close. In stoppage time, Australia had one last good opportunity to level the score, but Golebiowski's shot from 15 yards out went just wide left, but in the end the Aussies could not recover from the hot start from the African side, and Ghana would hold on for the 2-1 victory, their first in Women's World Cup history, and secures third spot in group D, as Australia slips to a disappointing fourth place as both teams head home.

Match report and game photos by Allison Andrews