Zdravko Kuzmanovic's stupid handball gifted Ghana a penalty in the final stages, as Serbia fell 1-0 in Group D. Asamoah Gyan netted from the spot, but Serbia were always struggling once Aleksandar Lukovic had been sent off in the 74th minute.

• Rajevac: Maybe we got lucky

• Warshaw: Africa given hope

• Gallery

The impressive Gyan, who also hit the post twice for Ghana, fired home from the

spot in 84th minute after Kuzmanovic had been adjudged to have handled a

cross in the area.

That sealed a closely-fought Group D encounter at Loftus Versfeld stadium and

puts Ghana in a promising position to progress through to the knockout phase in

their second appearance at the World Cup finals.

For Serbia, who were playing with a man less since the 74th minute following

the dismissal of Lukovic, they now have a mountain to climb as they

face group favourites Germany in their next match.

The match pitted old friends and fellow Serbians Radomir Antic and Milovan

Rajevac against each other on the respective benches of the two sides, and both

seemed keen to take the game to their opponents.

Antic's Serbia had the first effort in the first 15 seconds when Marko Pantelic

fizzed a 30-yard thunderbolt not too far wide. However, despite the best intentions of both sides, neither goalkeeper was seriously threatened in the first half.

Four-time African champions Ghana looked the more dangerous of the two, but

they failed to find the target with their two best opportunities. The first saw Gyan curl a free-kick over from a dangerous position on the edge

of the box, then captain John Mensah failed to get a decent connection on a

header from a free-kick seven yards out.

Serbia's main threat before the break came from a couple of well-worked

set-piece routines, neither featuring the anticipated high ball into the area

looking for the head of giant striker Nikola Zigic.

The first saw one training-ground routine pick out the unmarked Pantelic inside

the area, but poor control let him down and Ghana could breathe again. The second saw left-back Aleksandar Kolarov opt to go for goal from 30 yards

out and the reported Real Madrid target, like Pantelic in the first minute, was

not far away from finding the top corner with a well-struck shot.

The first opportunity of the second half should have resulted in the game's

opening goal - but Andre Ayew headed wide. Prince Tagoe's cross from the right cleared Serbia centre-back Nemanja Vidic

and fell perfectly for Ayew at the far post, but his downward header went wide.

Moments later at the other end Zigic missed a similarly gilt-edged chance for

Serbia. Pantelic's cross into the middle picked out his strike partner but the 6ft 7in

forward completely miscued his volley from six yards out. That was probably a better opening than Ayew's, and Ghana almost made Zigic pay

for his profligacy by nearly taking the lead in the 60th minute.

Gyan climbed above Vidic to reach a long throw-in into the area, and the Rennes

player was unfortunate to see his header hit the outside of the near post.

The introduction of experienced midfielder Stephen Appiah in the 72nd minute

was well received by the noisy and sizeable contingent of Ghana fans, and they

were given further cause for hope two minutes later when Serbia lost Lukovic to

a red card.

Lukovic, who had been booked at the start of the period, was shown a second

yellow card after pulling back Gyan.

Despite the setback Serbia looked the more dangerous side over the next five

minutes. Milos Krasic brought a fine block out of Kingson, Vidic headed over

from a corner and Branislav Ivanovic fired over as well.

Ghana survived that spell though, and in the 84th minute they were handed the

chance to take the game when Kuzmanovic was adjudged to have handled a cross

into the area, earning Rajevac's side a penalty.

Kuzmanovic protested his innocence but the decision stood and Gyan stepped up

to slam his spot-kick past Stojkovic, to the delight of the Ghana fans.

Kuzmanovic had a chance to make amends soon after but he blazed over, while man

of the match Gyan could have added a second late on but his shot rebounded back

off the post.