Accra, June 12, GNA 96 The Black Stars of Ghana on Monday lost 0-2 to Italy in their opening game of the 2006 World Cup. The Ghanaians however gave a good account of themselves in their historic appearance at the soccer fiesta by putting up a splendid performance.

The Stars matched the highly favoured Italians boot for boot and succeeded in creating some scoring chances whilst the Italian on the other hand were once denied the lead by the cross bar.

The Italians, true to prediction, had the first bite in the 40th minute when Pirlo=92s long, rising drive moved through a cluster of legs and heads to beat keeper Richard Kingston for the first goal.

It was a result the Stars could have avoided though the half ended with each side scoring 50% each in terms of ball possession.

Gingered by the desire to get the equaliser, the Stars came on strongly in the second half and took total control of the game but yet lacked the imagination upfront to find the net.

In all situations, it was either a misdirected kick on the part of Michael Essien, John Paitsil or the inability of the Ghanaians to break through the defensive system of the Italians.

With hopes still high, the Stars intensified their effort to clinch the equaliser and all seemed to be heading towards its fulfilment till experienced defender Sammy Osei-Kuffour gifted Vicento Ianquinta a second goal by sending a weak back pass to keeper Kingston. The ball fell on the path of the Italian for an easy pay day as he rounded up Kingston before stroking it into an empty net..

The goal dashed the hopes of the Stars in getting the much sought for equaliser till the end of regulation time.