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To: abuelita who wrote (52491)	6/17/2006 2:50:27 PM
From: Wharf Rat	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 104191

The check bounced. Go check the balance again. Ghana 2, Czech Republic 0 By DEREK GATOPOULOS, Associated Press Writer June 17, 2006 COLOGNE, Germany (AP) -- 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. Sulley Muntari added the second goal after Cech made save after save. He seemed to have intimidated the shooters until Muntari sent a rocket of a shot into the upper right corner of the net with the Czechs down to 10 men. Gyan picked up a pass from captain Stephen Appiah and easily beat Cech from just inside the area only 68 seconds into the match. Heavily outnumbered by Czech fans in the crowd, Ghana's supporters roared with delight and danced in their seats in the 45,000-seat Cologne Stadium. Gyan missed a penalty kick in the 67th after Czech defender Tomas Ujfalusi was sent off. He hit the right goalpost moments after putting a shot into the net -- but before the referee blew his whistle to restart play. Ujfalusi brought down striker Matthew Amoah to draw the penalty. The Czechs were missing strikers Jan Koller and Aston Villa's Milan Baros with injuries, but it was the defense that broke down. Vratislav Lokvenc, the lone striker for the Czech Republic, was quiet for most of the game and will be suspended in the third group match for getting his second yellow card of the round. Ghana coach Ratomir Dujkovic shook up his team's defense following a 2-0 loss to Italy. His strategy worked, in great part because of the early score by Gyan. Ghana dominated with Appiah and Michael Essien repeatedly exposing weaknesses in the Czech defense. Cech did well to stop a shot at close range from Amoah in the 70th, and again from Muntari three minutes later. With Essien and Appiah running the Czech defense ragged, Cech also stopped a barrage of late shots, with Gyan missing another one-on-one chance in the 79th. But Muntari found the net with a shot that left Cech no chance -- and the Americans a better chance.

To: abuelita who wrote (52491)	6/17/2006 10:09:39 PM
From: techguerrilla	Read Replies (1) \| Respond to of 104191

Rose, I thought Italy was a shoe-in ... but the US played great. .......... The refereeing this year is a joke. That Uruguayan referee was horrible. The red card to send off the US player in the first half was ridiculous. This is not the first time a South American referee has badly impacted a match. Nothing will top the quarter final four years ago between Italy and South Korea. Francesco Totti was tripped in the penalty box and the Ecuadoran referee sent him off for "simulation," "diving," or "cheating." I'll never forget Trappatoni, the Italian coach, going nuts and slamming the FIFA spectator box. Yesterday's Holland-Ivory Coast game was refereed by another incompetent referee from South America, a Colombian referee. He gave a ridiculous yellow card to Didier Droghba of the Ivory Coast. He can't play in their final game now because of it Referees are badly affecting the World Cup. We're going to get some important players missing some important games because of them. Argentina is dancing to the final and not picking up needless yellow cards. They have incredible depth, particularly up front. /john