The Black Stars of Ghana have booked a historic quarter final berth in the ongoing World Cup dumping the US 2-1 for the second time running. And it took 120 minutes of grueling exchanges and a goal of breathtaking genius by Asamoah Gyan for Africa’s only slot to be secured. Revenge it was on the minds of the Yankees but it was Kevin Prince-Boateng who got the Stars’ noses in front with a well taken left footer early in the game. The US fought back strongly in the second half and won a penalty after a late challenge on Dempsey which Donovan converted for the equalizer. In what looked like a repeat script in 2006, the Stars snatched a late winner to edge out the US team who gave everything but in the end got nothing. Ahead of the US clash, the Stars had scored their only two goals of the competition via the spot kick and on a day when win was all what was needed, it took the sensational Kevin Prince-Boateng to start it all. He scored his first goal for Ghana after his nationality switch, capped with a blistering World Cup outing and what a way he did it. The midfield dynamo latched onto a loose ball from the centre line, made a rampaging run, beating Bocanegra and Cherundolo in the process and blasted low with his weaker left foot to beat Tim Howard in post for the US. The Stars were in the driving seat in the first half and looked more comfortable, sometimes even casual. In one such casual moment, Hans Adu Sarpei gave the ball away cheaply in his own half; and the Yankees latched onto it with defence splitting passes from Dempsey to Findley but the shot landed in the path of Richard Kingson who saved it with his leg. The Stars ended the half on the high with great display and telepathy from Dede Ayew, Prince-Boateng and Kwadwo Asamoah. The Yankees had a different story to tell after recess; Feilhaber had a glorious opportunity fluffed at close range. A chance he was going to rue much later. The Yankees lifted up their game with Donovan proving a slippery customer for Adu Sarpei on the left; forcing Milovan Rajevac to bring on Lee Addy. They mounted pressure on the Stars and on two occasions Jonathan Mensah came in with a late challenge on Dempsey, one of which earned a deserved penalty for the Yankees. Donovan stepped up to slot the ball past Kingson at the right corner, with the ball hitting the side post before entering the net for the equalizer. The US pressed on after the Ghana defence marshaled around John Mensah and Jonathan Mensah appeared jittery at the back but the Yankees failed to make the chances that fell their way count. 1-1 it ended at regulation time. The Black Stars looked more determined at extra time and a moment of brilliance from Asamoah Gyan powered the Ghanaians to the quarter final. The Stars turned defence into attack after Ayew ballooned the ball from his own defence area; Asamoah Gyan trapped the ball on his chest and shoved aside a Bocanegra challenge; he stayed on his feet and measured the post before unleashing a left volley past Howard for Ghana’a second. The Stars defended with their lives and booked a quarter final clash against Uruguay on Friday. Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana