Ghana and Australia played out a draw in their World Cup Group D clash in Rustenburg on Saturday afternoon.

The result aids the Black Stars' qualification hopes, but they will be disappointed not to pick up all three points after Pim Verbeek's side played three quarters of the game with 10 men when Harry Kewell was sent off.

Australia had an early penalty shout as Lee Addy bundled Harry Kewell to the ground but Italian referee Roberto Rosetti waved away his appeals.

After 11 minutes, the contest burst into life as Mark Bresciano saw his long range free-kick spilled by Black Stars goalkeeper Richard Kingson and into the path of the quick-thinking Brett Holman.

He kept his cool to slot the rebound home and hand the Socceroos a dream start. Australia looked calm and composed in defence and in possession, but disaster struck in the 24th minute.

A cut-back from the right found young defender Jonathan Mensah and his effort was handled on the line by Kewell. The referee awarded the penalty and dismissed the former Liverpool and Leeds United man, much to his disgust.

As Kewell trudged off the pitch, Asamoah Gyan remained focused to send Mark Schwarzer the wrong way from 12 yards to restore parity.

With a numerical advantage, Ghana started to force the issue and on the stroke of half-time, Schwarzer earned his money by sensationally stopping Kevin-Prince Boateng's angled drive.

Although a corner was not awarded, it was clear the stopper made a fabulous fingertip save to keep his side in the contest.

A number of long-range efforts from the Africans after the interval went wide as the Socceroos kept them at bay and they had a golden chance to regain the lead.

Substitute Scott Chipperfield, who had been on the pitch a matter of seconds, rose unchallenged at the back post but he headed over.

At the other end, Gyan broke free of his marker on the right-wing and Kwadwo Asamoah came within inches of turning his cross home as the game opened up.

Gyan was then guilty of missing a great opening when he screwed wide then Luke Wilkshire spurned a one-on-one chance at the other end as Kingson saved the day.

The ball broke to Joshua Kennedy, but his follow up lacked conviction and the Wigan Athletic keeper made a comfortable stop.

With time running out, a number of half-chances for each side came and went, but it was Ghana who went the closest in the dying moments.

Sulley Muntari picked out Mensah perfectly at the back post but he failed to put his header on target and Australia held out to pick up their first point of the competition.