Australia showed great spirit to draw with Ghana

     

Australia made light of their advancing years and the early dismissal of striker Harry Kewell to produce a gallant fight for World Cup survival on Saturday as they held Ghana to an often dramatic 1-1 draw.

In an open, fast-moving and incident-filled Group D encounter that began boldly and ended bloodily, the Socceroos showed immense spirit, grit and ambition to take their first point of the tournament.

The Australians led as early as the 11th minute when Brett Holman profited from an error by Ghanaian keeper Richard Kingson who spilt a shot from Mark Bresciano, allowing Holman to net the rebound.

But their hopes of victory were wrecked when Kewell was sent off by Italian referee Roberto Rossetti 13 minutes later for stopping a goalbound shot by Jonathan Mensah on the line with his upper right arm.

Asamoah Gyan waited while Kewell argued and gesticulated his way off the field - he was finally escorted up the tunnel to the dressing room by FIFA officials - before firing a low spot-kick into the bottom right corner.