Boateng gives Ghana 1-0 half-time lead over US

Ghana’s Kevin-Prince Boateng scored in the fifth minute to give Africa’s last World Cup hopefuls a 1-0 lead over the United States at half-time of their second-round match on Saturday.

Boateng blasted a left-footed shot past US goalkeeper Tim Howard as the Black Stars, trying to become only Africa’s third World Cup quarter-finalists, snapped a scoring drought from anywhere other than the penalty spot.

The winner of the match will advance to a last-eight meeting with Uruguay on Friday at Johannesburg’s Soccer City stadium. The South Americans progressed with a 2-1 victory over South Korea earlier on Saturday.

Ghana dominated control of the ball for most of the first half, although US forward Robbie Findley raced in alone in the 35th minute only to be denied by Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson.

The US have never won a World Cup match in which they have trailed and have not won back-to-back matches since 1930.

The Black Stars, who eliminated the Americans in the 2006 World Cup group phase, are the last of six African teams that began the first World Cup on African soil.

Their two other goals in the tournament were both Asamoah Gyan penalty kicks.