It's the 9th day

of the World Cup and surprises have been coming fast and hard from all corners from the start. The first game of the day, was a dull, relatively lifeless match between Iran & Portugal. The first half ended nil-nil, but Portugal came out with a little more of a mission in the second half. A goal by Deco opened the sheet while Figo got on the board a little while later. The 2-0 win for Portugal makes them the 6th team to secure passage into the second round, and there's still a game to play. For Iran, even with a game to play, their World Cup dreams are done and dusted. **UPDATED** The Ghana & Czech Republic match has just started; and just like that Ghana are up 1 goal to nil by Gyan. This goal stands, currently, as the fastest goal scored in the tournament in the 2nd minute (1'18" I think) and one of the fastest in World Cup history (the fastest occurred in 2002 at 11 seconds). Jan Koller, for the Czech Republic is out having sustained an injury in the first match. As a matter of point, Koller has 43 international goals for his national team while the entire national team of Ghana have only ever scored 43 goals. The Czech Republic will miss Koller in this match, but they still have Rosicky and Nedved, two of the best players on the planet. Of course every fan of the United States team is hoping sincerely for a Ghana win to help salve the wounds the Czech Republic left on the US team. Should this result stand, the US cannot help but be bolstered, morale-wise, in their game against Italy later today. **UPDATE** It's halftime in Cologne (Koln) and the Ghana team have stunned the Czechs with their 1-nil lead going into the dressing room. Not just the team, but the fans, too. Even the stadium is very quiet especially when compared to the typical Czech roar. As a point of fact, the Ghanese are the youngest team in the world cup this year with the average age being just over 24 years of age; but their relative inexperience have certainly not prevented them from beating the wiley Czechs to the net. **UPDATE** The second half of the match in this must-win game for Ghana is underway. Both sides have made one change to their lineup, with the more surprising move coming from the Czech team. They've called off their captain to replace him with Polak in the mid-field. While, the Ghana team have put Boateng in, presumeably to take advantage of his pace. and oh my! Nedved scores on the 39 second of the half, but it's offside. The entire United States and the nation of Ghana sigh with relief. If Ghana win this game, the US can not be eliminated today and Italy can not secure passage through today. It will require that third game be played. Personally, if you've not guessed by now, I'm hoping for a Ghana win despite my admiration for Rosicky (an Arsenal player) and Nedved. **UPDATE** amazing, gripping stuff in this match. In the 64th minute, a Ghana striker is tripped in the box resulting in a penalty kick. While the ball is being set for Ghana, a Czech player, Ujfalusi is show a straight red card apparently for the foul. Perhaps he was the last defender, but with the Pathetic Coverage by ABC is almost impossible to tell. The Ghana player took the spot while the red card was being issued and received a yellow card for his efforts. Therefore the ball is respotted for him to try again, but this time, the soccer gods were definitely not on his side as he squarely struck the woodwork. The scoreline remains at 1-0 to the Ghana, but the drama has been phenomenal. The CR have the final 20 minutes now to play with only 10 men. It's going to be a hard road for them, but perhaps the newly agitated and awakened crowd can be that 11th man for the Czechs. **UPDATE** It's the 83rd minute and Ghana have just scored their second. Cech has been stunning in the CR net, but it was only just a matter of time. The Czech defence is in pure disarray and only Cech has kept CR in the match making save after beautiful save. However, a beautifully worked play by Ghana beat everyone including the magnificent Peter Cech to give Ghana a richly deserved 2 goal lead and the US a massive morale boost and hope. and in the 89th minute, a third goal by Ghana is called back for offsides. A bad decision by the striker to play the ball to a more advanced striker. Had he just shot, it would have been 3-0 legitimately. Ghana have been in the driver seat since the second half started and have firmly relegated the Czech to the back seat. Not even inviting them forward to fiddle the radio knobs. Czech Republic have effectively left the match, not even Rosicky & Nedved are making an impact and their frustration is mounting. This is a very well deserved win for Ghana who will each received a $20,000 bonus from the Ghana government. And the game is over. Ghana, despite a late press from the Czech Republic that forced two massive saves from Kingson hang onto that vital 2 goal lead and have created a three-way tie in the group for first place. Should the US win against Italy (that game starts in an hour), then there will be a 4-way tie for the lead. What a beautiful game! **UPDATE** Italy v USA 1-1 draw. And what a game. I watched this from a nearby bar, so it didn't get reported on as it was happening, I'm doing this after the fact (the next day to tell the truth). The game was a fascinating affair with the first of many cards given out in the fifth minute. The first goal of the game, by Italy was a gem. A perfectly slotted cross & an immaculate header beat Kasey Keller and the US defence to the net to give Italy a crucial 1 goal lead. In this competition, the team that scores first has won all but 4 matches and of those 4, only 2 were losses. So, this was an immense blow to the US as the idiot commentators kept reminding us. The second goal, also by Italy but placed in their own net, was another perfectly slotted cross. This one went by all defenders except one who deftly flicked it past his own keeper into the corner of the net. Celebrations were delayed as the team, the commentators and even the spectators in the bar tried to figure out just what the hell had happened. Confusing, but ultimately and happily, it went on the scoreboard as a 1-1 game. Late in the game, substitute Demarcus Beasley scored a brilliant goal, but another US player was called for offsides. Although this other player (I don't recall who) wasn't active in the play and didn't touch the ball, he did impede the keeper's vision and was in an offside position. So, even through Bruce Arena's "that's our fucking matchball" comment, we all had to agree that the call was correct. Sad, unfortunate, but correct. Luckily, with Ghana having beat the Czech Republic, we were saved from humiliation and still have a chance. If we beat Ghana in 5 days and Italy beats the Czech Republic, the US enter the round of 16. So there you have it, another hapless day for the US. More later. Until then Wastrel On!