NUREMBERG, June 22: Ghana won a place in the last 16 of the World Cup on their finals debut with a 2-1 victory over the United States in a Group E decider on Thursday they largely controlled.

A controversial stoppage time penalty just before the break converted by captain Stephen Appiah secured the required three points after Clint Dempsey had cancelled out Ghana's initial goal by Haminu Dramani.

Ghana are only the fifth African team to advance from the World Cup group stage and the only one of five African nations at this tournament to go through so far — though Tunisia have an outside chance in Group H on Friday.

Their coach Ratomir Dujkovic said: “It was a historic match but a nervous one for both teams. We've done it and we're satisfied.

“This is a starting point for all Ghanaians, for this group of players and myself. The first time in the World Cup and we come in the top 16 in the world.”

The game turned on the penalty when Razak Pimpong was judged to have been pushed by Oguchi Onyewu.

US coach Bruce Arena said: “We are very disappointed by the judgement of the referee ... I would like to have come out after halftime even. The call was the big call of the game.”

The US struck the post midway through the second half, but otherwise, with a lone striker for much of the match, caused the Ghanaian defence few problems.

The Africans, who lost 2-0 to Italy in their first match, finished second in Group E and are likely to play Group F leaders Brazil for a place in the quarter-finals but will be without midfield inspiration Michael Essien.

His crunching tackle on Reyna in the first half brought his second consecutive yellow card of the tournament.

Ghana were the more combative for most of the match, although they struggled to find their rhythm early on against a United States team missing key centre back, Eddie Pope, and holding midfielder Pablo Mastroeni through suspension.

They also lost captain Claudio Reyna towards the end of the first half.

Ghana took the lead in the 22nd minute when midfielder Dramani dispossessed Reyna and strode into the penalty area to curl the ball past a diving Kasey Keller. Reyna appeared to pick up a leg injury in the process.

Midfielder Dempsey fired the US back on level terms two minutes from the break after DaMarcus Beasley cracked in a low cross from the left following a defensive mix-up among three Ghanaians.

But within four minutes Appiah had cracked the spot kick into the top left corner after Razak Pimpong had been pushed in the area.

Arena threw on forward Eddie Johnson to join striker Brian McBride for the last half hour, a move that kick-started a series of US assaults on the Ghanaian goal.

McBride struck the post in the 66th minute with a header from an Eddie Lewis cross.

Scorers: Ghana — Haminu Dramani 22, Stephen Appiah pen 45+2; United States —Clint Dempsey 43.

Halftime: 2-1.

Teams:

GHANA (4-4-2): 22-Richard Kingston; 15-John Paintsil, 13-Habib Mohamed, 5-John Mensah, 7-Shilla Illiasu; 9-Derek Boateng (20-Otto Addo 46), 8-Michael Essien, 10-Stephen Appiah, 23-Haminu Dramani (12-Alex Tachie-Mensah 12); 14-Matthew Amoah (18-Eric Addo 59), 19-Razak Pimpong.

UNITED STATES (5-4-1): 18-Kasey Keller; 3-Carlos Bocanegra, 22-Oguchi Onyewu, 13-Jimmy Conrad, 6-Steve Cherundolo (9-Eddie Johnson 61), 7-Eddie Lewis (15-Bobby Convey 74); 17-DaMarcus Beasley, 10-Claudio Reyna (14-Ben Olson 40), 21-Landon Donovan, 8-Clint Dempsey; 20-Brian McBride.

Referee: Markus Merk (Germany).—Reuters

Group E standings