It’s a Good Day for Ghana and Australia Fans

Drummers and dancers flooded the streets of Accra, Ghana’s capital, Thursday in celebration of their team’s World Cup victory over the United States, with men climbing on car rooftops to wave Ghanaian flags and a rising chant of “Ghana go go go!” filling the city.

“This is a great day for Ghana,” said Emelia Ameya, a 52-year-old phone company administrator, amid the uproar. “We have beaten the Americans and go, go, we go!”

Ghana President John Kufuor told the BBC that he was so nervous, he locked himself in his office to watch the match alone. “I didn’t want people around me ... so if my nerves had gotten the better of me, nobody would know,” Kufuor said.

The city of Accra erected gigantic screens at a few spots, but many Ghanaians crowded into restaurants or huddled around electronic shop windows to get a glimpse of TVs displaying the game.

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Roars of triumph erupted across Australia to celebrate the Socceroos’ first-ever advance to the second round of the World Cup.

Millions rose before dawn to watch the live broadcast from Germany, with thousands gathering before giant screens in Sydney and Melbourne, tens of thousands more in pubs and bars, and others viewing at home to see if their team could secure a draw or better against Croatia to join Brazil at the top of Group F.

They got their wish, after a tense game in which Australia’s attack was repeatedly frustrated and its defense sometimes looked shaky. The high moment was winger Harry Kewell’s goal in the 79th minute to seal the 2-2 draw.

More than 1,000 people at Circular Quay in downtown Sydney exploded in cheers, pumping their fists and waving Australian flags as Kewell -- who had been in doubt for the game until FIFA cleared him of insulting the referee in the preceding match against Brazil -- slammed the ball home.

This is Australia’s first World Cup since 1974, and by far its most successful.

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Former Brazil player Zico said he quit as Japan’s coach with a “clear conscience” after a 4-1 defeat to his countrymen eliminated the team.

Zico, 53, always planned to leave after the event. He took over as coach in 2002.

The Japanese, playing at a third World Cup, paid for mistakes against Australia in their opening game, when they allowed three late goals in throwing away a 1-0 lead. They also tied Croatia.