JOHANNESBURG, South Africa (AFP) — Africa celebrated its first victory in the first World Cup staged on the continent as Ghana converted a late penalty to edge Serbia 1-0 yesterday in a tense Group D Pretoria showdown.

And goalkeeping howlers continued in Group C as Algerian Faouzi Chaouchi joined Robert Green of England in the hall of shame by gifting Slovenia a 1-0 victory in Polokwane.

Striker Asamoah Gyan sent Vladimir Stojkovic the wrong way from an 85th-minute spot kick after Zdravko Kuzmanovic handled a cross and the Black Stars collected three points that could pave the way to a second-round spot.

Serbia were reduced to 10 men earlier when centreback Aleksandar Lukovic tugged the shirt of a rival and received a second booking followed by a red card.

Ghana goalkeeper Richard Kingson made a superb block from a point-blank Milos Krasic drive as the match exploded into action at a packed Loftus Versfeld stadium.

Slovenia captain Robert Koren could hardly believe his luck 11 minutes from full-time when Chaouchi allowed a tame, curling shot from outside the penalty area slip into the corner of the net.

The gift-wrapped goal followed an even worse blunder by Green late on Saturday as he presented United States striker Clint Dempsey with an equaliser in a 1-1 draw.

It was the first Slovenian World Cup victory after three losses eight years ago and gave them a two-point lead over the favoured English, and the Americans.

Algeria looked slightly sharper for much of a match watched by former France star Zinedine Zidane only to play the last 17 minutes a man short after substitute striker Abdelkader Ghezzal was sent off for a second caution.

Perennial contenders Germany enter the World Cup arena later on Sunday determined to prove there is life after Michael Ballack when they face Australia in Durban.

The 33-year-old midfielder given a close-season free transfer from English Premiership champions Chelsea was ruled out of the tournament by a injury during the FA Cup final victory over Portsmouth.

Ballack has been the midfield conductor of Germany for many years and how the three-time champions cope without him will be keenly noted at the 70,000-seat Moses Mabhida Stadium in the Indian Ocean city.

Germany have been boastful in the traditional pre-match war of words and Australia midfielder Tim Cahill from Everton says this will serve as the perfect motivational tool for the Socceroos.

South Korea and Argentina were second-day victors while an embarrassing blunder by Green gifted the United States a 1-1 draw in a match watched by American vice-president Joe Biden.