Ghana beats Czechs 2-0 in World Cup

The United States team got some help from an unlikely source, as Ghana stunned the Czech Republic in World Cup play.

Photo Ghana Beats Czech Republic World Cup Group E soccer match between Czech Republic and Ghana, at the Cologne stadium, Germany, Saturday, June 17, 2006. Ghana won 2-0. The other teams in Group E are Italy and the United States. (AP Photo/Murad Sezer) Ghana pulled off the biggest upset of this World Cup and might have helped the United States along the way. The first win for Africa in this tournament was a stunner, 2-0 over the same Czech Republic team that routed the Americans in their opener. Asamoah Gyan scored in the second minute Saturday and the Ghanians peppered star goalkeeper Petr Cech before getting the clincher in the 82nd.

With the victory, Ghana assured that the United States would not be eliminated from contention even with a loss later Saturday against Italy. A U.S. win would put all four teams even at three points in Group E.

Quite bizarre.

OTB Sports

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James Joyner
About James Joyner
James Joyner is Professor and Department Head of Security Studies at Marine Corps University's Command and Staff College. He's a former Army officer and Desert Storm veteran. Views expressed here are his own. Follow James on Twitter @DrJJoyner.

Comments

  1. Kathy K says:

    Bravo for Ghana!

  2. Pele says:

    Quite bizarre.

    Why is an upset “bizarre”? They happen all of the time in sports.

  3. James Joyner says:

    Pele: It’s pretty unusual for the #2 ranked team to get beat 2-0 by an also-ran.

  4. DC Loser says:

    James, the FIFA rankings are not grounded in reality . They said the US team was ranked #5. Please tell me with a straight face the Czechs are better than the Germans, Argentines, or the Brazillians. If you’d watch the last few World Cups, you’d know that Cameroon was a regular favorite giant killer and that Senegal beat the then reigning Champion French team in the opening game in 2002.