Gyan penalty kick gives Ghana 1-0 win

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South Africa Soccer WCup Serbia Ghana — Ghana players celebrate after Ghana's Asamoah Gyan, center right, scored a penalty kick during the World Cup group D soccer match between Serbia and Ghana at the Loftus Versfeld Stadium in Pretoria, South Africa, Sunday, June 13, 2010. (AP Photo/Hassan Ammar)

PRETORIA, South Africa — Asamoah Gyan scored on an 84th-minute penalty kick Sunday as Ghana beat Serbia 1-0 in a Group D match at the World Cup.

Zdravko Kuzmanovic needlessly handled a cross in the area, then argued the call and yellow card he received. Gyan drove the penalty kick high to the left for the only goal at Loftus Versfeld stadium.

Previously, Ghana missed a series of headers. John Mensah and Gyan missed the target and Dede Ayew headed against the goalpost.

Serbia’s only real threat near the end was a shot by Milos Krasic that was brilliantly saved by Richard Kingson.

The Serbs had Aleksandar Lukovic sent off in the 74th minute for a second yellow card.

Germany plays Australia in the other group game later Sunday.

The only African team to reach the second round at the 2006 World Cup, Ghana had the vast majority of the support among the South Africans in the stadium.

“Every African is behind us,” Gyan said. “I salute all you guys, we win this match for you.”

Gyan almost made it 2-0 in injury time but hit the post after a burst down the left side.

“This is all I have worked for, and to be man of the match, it is fantastic,” he said.

The fast-moving Ghanaians created more chances and could have been ahead by halftime.

Central defender Mensah headed a free kick wide of the far post and Gyan failed to reach a left wing cross by Kevin-Prince Boateng as the Serb defense struggled against well-directed balls into the middle.

Defender Aleksander Korolov produced the first threat to the Ghanaians with a 30-yard free kick that sailed just wide, and goalkeeper Richard Kingson fumbled another long range drive by Dejan Stankovic.

But they made little use of the height of 6-foot-8 striker Nikola Zigic, who was replaced in the middle of the second half having made little impact.

The Serbs finally got close in the 79th when Marko Pantelic left the ball to Krasic, whose left-footed shot was acrobatically pushed over the crossbar by Kingson.

Neven Subotic of Salt Lake City made his World Cup debut when he entered as a sub for Serbia in the 76th minute. Subotic made one start and three substitute appearances for the U.S. at the 2005 Under-17 World Championship, where he played alongside forward Jozy Altidore, a member of this year’s American World Cup team.

Subotic left the U.S. national team program after he was passed over by coach Thomas Rongen for the 2007 Under-20 World Cup. He made his debut for Serbia in March 2009.