Black Stars earn stripes

Group E Ghana 2 United States 1 Ghana saw off one superpower to set up a meeting with another, their win over the United States setting up a second-round tie with Brazil.

Only Michael Essien will feel equivocal about the greatest day in his country's football history after receiving a yellow card that will keep him out of the next game.

For those wearing the Stars and Stripes there was only anger and a sense of grievance. Both Ghana's goals were touched by controversy - referee Markus Merk swaying between leniency and pettiness as he ignored claims for a foul on Claudio Reyna in the build-up to the first goal, then awarding a dubious penalty for the second.

Merk gave out five yellow cards in a fussy performance that did nothing for the spectacle, although the one waved at Essien after five minutes was the most significant.

Ghana's Serbian coach Ratomir Dujkovic, who in January faced calls for his head after the side flopped out of the African Nations Cup in Egypt, fully sympathised with Essien but the disappointment was not sufficient to dim his delight at reaching the last 16.

"This is a dream for the Black Stars of Ghana," he said. "After Egypt there were some people who wanted me to go. I feel sorry for them tonight but I am very happy and proud for 20 million Ghanaians.

"The USA are a very talented team but they are going home, and Brazil will have to suffer too if we are to go on. For us it will be an honour to play them. They are the world champions but the Black Stars are the Brazil of Africa. Our tactics will be simple, to score three goals."

Dujkovic's levity contrasted with Bruce Arena's deep despondency. Ghana's penalty came in the 47th minute, four minutes after Clint Dempsey had equalised to leave the game and group in the balance.

"The referee's call was remarkable for a game at this level," said Arena, whose reign as the longest-serving national coach at the tournament may be at an end. "It left us chasing the game when we had worked so hard to get level."

Controversy touched all three goals. Merk's decision to wave play on in the 22nd minute when the dawdling Claudio Reyna was robbed by a brusque challenge from Haminu Draman 30 yards from goal was justifiable, though Draman appeared to clip Reyna's knee in the tackle. While the US captain writhed, Draman advanced on Kasey Keller's goal and calmly steered his right-foot shot into the far corner.

The decision brought a fuming Arena to the edge of his technical area in protest, and his mood was no better when forced to remove his labouring captain after 40 minutes. Three minutes later the USA were level - Dempsey finishing from eight yards after DaMarcus Beasley seized on an error by Derek Boateng to cross from the left wing. Any righteous indignation on the part of the Americans at that stage was undermined by replays which suggested the offside decision was marginal.

There was no justification for the pivotal decision of the game, however, Merk harshly penalising the centre-half Oguchi Onyewu for reaching over Razak Pimpong as they competed for a bouncing ball inside the penalty area. Ghana's captain Stephen Appiah, again excellent, crashed in the penalty. Guardian Service

GHANA: Kingston, Mensah, Pantsil, Shilla, Mohamed, Appiah, Essien, Dramani (Tachie-Mensah 80), Boateng (Otto Addo 45), Amoah (Eric Addo 59), Pimpong. Subs not used: Adjei, Ahmed, Kuffour, Owu, Pappoe, Quaye, Sarpei. Booked: Essien, Shilla, Mensah, Appiah.

UNITED STATES: Keller, Onyewu, Conrad, Cherundolo (Johnson 60), Bocanegra, Dempsey, Reyna (Olsen 40), Lewis (Convey 74), Beasley, Donovan, McBride. Subs Not Used: Albright, Berhalter, Ching, Hahnemann, Howard, O'Brien, Wolff. Booked: Lewis.

Referee: Markus Merk (Germany).

Ghana ... 2 Dramani 22 Appiah 45 pen United States ... 1 Dempsey 43 Attendance: 41,000