HANNOVER, Jun 12 (SW) - Welcome to SoccerWay.com's live coverage of the World Cup Group E match between Italy and Ghana.

FULL-TIME
Italy claim three points amid all the controversy they had brought with them to Germany.

They created many chances and could have had more but some good saves by Kingston and a crossbar kept it from being four or five.

Ghana looked strong on their counterattacks in the first half, but didn't have as many second-half chances.

89th minute - Ghana substitution
On: 12 - Tachie-Mensah
Off: 3 - Gyan

88th minute - Italy booking
Booked: 15 - Iaquinta
The scorer of the second goal knocks the ball away after the whistle and is cautioned. Silly to pick up such a yellow when one more in the group stage is a suspension.

83rd minute - GOAL ITALY! (0-2)
Goal: 15 - Iaquinta
Error by Kuffour and Italy have insurance! The Roma defender gets the weight of his backpass completely wrong and Iaquinta runs onto it, rounds Kingston, and slots into an open net.

82nd minute - Italy substitution
On: 7 - Del Piero
Off: 9 - Toni
Toni had a few good chances to snatch a goal tonight, and hit the woodwork once, but a roar is heard in the stadium as Alessandro Del Piero makes his 2006 debut.

79th minute
Gyan goes down again in the area, but again the referee says "no" to Ghana's calls for a spot kick. But if the referee thinks he was diving, why is there no caution?

73rd minute
Gyan goes down in the area and appeals for penalty are turned down by referee Carlos Simon, but it appeared De Rossi gave him a bit of a shove. The referee, though, says no.

68th minute - Ghana substitution
On: 19 - Pimpong
Off: 14 - Amoah
Razak Pimpong replaces Amoah in another straight swap.

67th minute
Perrotta falls victim to an improving Kingston as he is played through beautifully, only to have the Ghana keeper make a fine save on his powerful shot.

65th minute - Ghana booking
Booked: 3 - Gyan
The striker is cautioned after challenging Pirlo with his studs showing.

65th minute - Italy substitution
Off: 11 - Gilardino
On: 15 - Iaquinta
The misfiring Gilardino is taken off in a straight swap for Udinese striker Vincenzo Iaquinta.

62nd minute - Italy booking
Booked: 16 - Camoranesi
Muntari is hauled down by the substitute Camoranesi as he races toward the Italy penalty area, and the referee issues the caution.

56th minute - Italy substitution
On: 16 - Camoranesi
Off: 10 - Totti
Totti has his ankle inadvertently stamped on by Pantsil and he goes down in some pain. Marcello Lippi doesn't hesitate to bring Camoranesi on.

54th minute
Buffon is forced into his first save of the evening as a dipping shot from distance by Essien brings a quick reaction out of the Juve goalkeeper.

51st minute
Gilardino should have given Italy a 2-0 lead, but his shot coming into the right side of the area was right at Kingston, who did well to cut down the angle.

46th minute - Ghana substitution
On: 7 - Illiasu
Off: 6 - Pappoe
It's a straight swap as Shilla Illiasu replaces Emmanuel Pappoe at left-back.

HALF-TIME
Andrea Pirlo's wonderful goal has Italy in front at half-time and they have looked very strong coming forward. Some poor final touches and one crossbar have otherwise kept Italy down.

Ghana have had their share of opportunities and look increasingly strong on their counterattacks, which seem to be their best offensive tactic.

45th minute
Grosso receives an overlapping ball in the area and has a look at goal, but a charging Kingston knocks the ball out for a corner.

40th minute - GOAL ITALY! (1-0)
Goal: 21 - Pirlo
A superb strike by the sure foot of Pirlo! Totti plays the corner kick to the top of the area and the AC Milan midfielder hits a beautiful right-footed effort that goes inside the low corner of Kingston's left-hand post.

35th minute
Totti gets another effort with a similar free kick, but this one is deflected and it loops into the arms of Kingston.

33rd minute
Totti drives a 40-yard free kick that swerves toward goal, but Kingston slaps it away for a corner. The ensuing set piece sees Cannavaro head just over the top of the goal after Kingston again failed to punch the ball away.

32nd minute
A cross in the area is headed by Gyan to left-back Emmanuel Pappoe, but he fires high attempting to shoot into the far corner.

31st minute
Now it's Michael Essien getting in on the action as the Chelsea midfielder races into the area from the left, but his shot misses just wide of the near post.

29th minute
And on the other end, Ghana nearly take the lead as Amoah plays the ball forward for Gyan who fires just wide of the far post with Gianluigi Buffon diving to get to it.

27th minute
Toni is again ever so close to an opener! He manages a header to step around Samuel Kuffour, but his laser shot, which beats Kingston, smacks against the crossbar and Ghana clear.

26th minute
Pantsil puts Fabio Grosso on the ground with a fine move on the right and the ball eventually makes its way to Muntari who can only fire a distance shot high.

24th minute
Totti lobs a ball up in the air as Italy attack once again, but Toni can only put up a weak overhead effort after the ball is headed back in his direction.

18th minute
Ghana right-back John Pantsil picks out the run of Matthew Amoah with a perfect cross, but Alessandro Nesta does well to cut out the danger.

16th minute
Andrea Pirlo plays a free kick toward the top of the area, but Francesco Totti balloons a shot over the bar after the play worked to perfection.

12th minute
Luca Toni will be kicking himself after this miss! A ball in from Perrotta picked out the run of the Fiorentina striker, but he slipped in his run and Alberto Gilardino couldn't put it in from the far post.

10th minute - Italy booking
Booked: 4 - De Rossi
Daniele De Rossi commits a hard foul on Essien just outside the Italy penalty area, conceding a very dangerous free kick to the Black Stars, but the ball ends up in the wall.

8th minute
Fabio Cannavaro takes a crack at goal with a header from the center of the area, but the ball sails high and Ghana get a goal kick.

7th minute
Italy are playing several balls straight into the area, including three corners, and so far Kingston looks a bit unsure of himself in the Ghana goal, but so far nothing too terrible has happened.

Kickoff
Ghana, making their World Cup debut, get the proceedings underway.

Pre-Game
For Italy, Gianluca Zambrotta are out of action, so Cristian Zaccardo steps in to deputize while Simone Perrotta is handed a start for the Azzurri in midfield with Mauro Camoranesi dropping to the bench.

Ghana will put Richard Kingston in goal over Sammy Adjei, otherwise the lineup will be as expected.

Lineups
Italy: Buffon; Zaccardo, Nesta, Cannavaro, Grosso; Pirlo, Perrotta, De Rossi, Totti (Camoranesi 56); Toni (Del Piero 82), Gilardino (Iaquinta 65).
Goals: Pirlo 40, Iaquinta 83
Booked: De Rossi 10, Camoranesi 62


Ghana: Kingston; Pantsil, Kuffour, Mensah, Pappoe (Illiasu 46); Addo, Essien, Appiah, Muntari; Gyan (Tachie-Mensah 89), Amoah (Pimpong 68).
Goals:
Booked: Gyan 65


Match Information
Venue: AWD-Arena, Hannover
Referee: Carlos Simon (BRA)
Assistants: Aristeu Tavares and Ednilson Corona (BRA)
4th Official: Khalil al-Ghamdi (KSA)