Ghana sits on top of Group D after a pulsating 1-1 draw with a ten man Australian side in Rustenburg.
A game filled with high drama and missed opportunities could be enough for Ghana to progress and could have ended the Socceroos hopes of advancing to the final 16 of the tournament.
A controversial red card to Harry Kewell in the 24th minute gave Australia a mountain to climb after losing their second player to a red card in as many matches after 23 minutes at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium.
The Socceroos came out firing in response to their 4-0 drubbing at the hands of Germany in their first group match. It seemed the backs against the wall approach looked to be a blessing in disguise for a side looking positive in attack and more assured in defence.
With the talismanic Harry Kewell brought into the team as a lone striker under the tried and trusted 4-5-1 system of Pim Verbeek all looked positive in the early exchanges, with Kewell having a penalty appeal turned down and Australia looking threatening in the opposition half.
Australia went ahead after the 11 minutes, with Brett Holman capitalising on a mistake from the Ghanaian keeper Richard Kingson.
The goal was created by Mark Bresciano's free kick. Left from the line up against Germany the Italian based midfielder took advantage of Carl Valeri being fouled.
The ball dipped just in front of the stopper forcing him to drop the ball and Holman was there to deflect in the goal.
However it was not long before the Black Stars had the Australians under the cosh. As the Ghanaians pressed for an equaliser, the frailties of the Germany performance did not look to be completely eradicated, and then disaster struck for the Socceroos.
A controversial red card was given to Australia's Harry Kewell after Ghana's Jonathan Mensah struck a ball from a goal box scramble directly at the recently returned Galatasaray attacker, only to strike him high on the arm, from there Italian referee Roberto Rosetti saw enough intent for a red card and it was given, along with a penalty.
Asamoah Gyan was cool in front of goal, and sent Schwarzer the wrong way. With the score even the Socceroos were under the pump throughout.
In what could only be described as a courageous effort, the Australians fought throughout and defended bravely, almost snaffling a victory with some great opportunities.
Luke Wilkshire had the best of the Australian chances late in the match in the 67th minute when the right back pushed a placed shot straight into the body of Richard Kingston with Josh Kennedy only able to push his shot into the ground which was cleared off the line by Ghana's defence.
Missed opportunities were something the Black Stars had in droves with the Socceroos goal besieged for major parts of the game, it looked like they were their own worst enemy squandering opportunities with long shots and not sustaining pressure on the 10 men of Australia.
The equation is now simple for the Socceroos, win, win by as much as you can and hope that results fall your way. It is in no way ideal, but as clichéd as adages get the Socceroos must live by one. While there is life there is hope.
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