The United States and Ghana both kept their hopes of qualifying for the World Cup knockout stage alive after surprise results in their Group E matches on Saturday.

The United States held Italy to a 1-1 draw in an ill-tempered match in Kaiserslautern while Ghana scored an astonishing but well deserved 2-0 win over the Czech Republic in Cologne.

Italy defeated Ghana 2-0 and the Czech Republic beat the United States 3-0 in their first-round matches. Saturday's results put Group E open and every team will wait until the last match for their fate.

Portugal, who beat Angola 1-0 in their opener, qualified for the knockout stage after easing past Iran 2-0 in Frankfurt.

Three players were sent off by Uruguayan referee Jorge Larrionda in the US vs Italy match, in which a loss could keep the United States out of the next stage.

Italy caught the US defence flat-footed as Andrea Pirlo's in-swinging free-kick was headed into the bottom of the net by Alberto Gilardino in the 22nd minute.

The United States pulled it even thanks to an own goal five minutes later, when Bobby Convey's free-kick from the right evaded everybody until Italian defender Cristian Zaccardo shinned it into the corner of his own net.

The two sides failed to score in the second half even though both fought hard in search of a winner.

US coach Bruce Arena was delighted with a point. "It's fantastic to get a point from the match. We want to stay alive and we know that four points will enough to put us through from the group," Arena said.

"It's a crazy match. We were nervous today," said Italy head coach Marcello Lippi. "The own goal and the Rossi's red card made us more nervous. Obviously I am not satisfied with the draw."

US goalkeeper Kasey Keller, who was named Man of the Match after the match, was their team's No. 1 hero, producing a stunning display of goalkeeping to help earn his side a point, particularly in the second half after his side was reduced to nine men.

The pick of his saves came in the 73rd minute when he denied Alessandro Del Piero with a one-handed save at full stretch.

Italy midfielder Daniele De Rossi was the first to be sent off in the 28th minute for throwing an elbow at US striker Brian McBride on the halfway line.

McBride, who plays with English premier league side Fulham, suffered claret all over his face but he went back on his feet and returned to the pitch after being cleaned by the physios.

The US side was also left 10 men on the pitch in the final minute of the first half, when Pablo Mastroeni was shown the red card for a lunge on Andrea Pirlo. His studs caught the Italian on the ankle.

In the 47th minute, the United States were down to nine men. Defender Eddie Pope caught Alberto Gilardino and received a secondbooking and his marching orders.

Ghana have leveled the points with the Czechs on three with the victory and raised to a third place in the group, trailing on goal differences to the Czechs.

Ghana's coach Ratomir Dujkovic, however, believed a far better result should come from the performance of his team.

"I was surprised that we just win 2-0," he joked at a post-match press conference.

Asamoah Gyan netted in the first-ever score for the Black Starsin the Finals in just 75 seconds, as he chested down a centered ball from captain Stephen Appiah and fired past Petr Cech with an unstoppable low shot after the Czechs failed to clear their lines following a corner.

Sulley Muntari scored the second in 82 minutes, coolly finishing a cross from Gyan to the roof of the net after the latter broke forward down the right, steadied himself and squared the ball to Muntari.

Portugal midfielder Deco, voted Man of the Match against Iran, scored the opener with a powerful drive. Cristiano Ronaldo sealed the win from the spot after Luis Figo was brought down in the box.

Portugal squandered a few chances in the first half, with striker Pauleta the main culprit.

Iran's defence shook in the second half. In the 63rd minute, Portugal finally seized their chance as Figo laid off the ball to Deco, who sent a curling right-footed shot straight into the corner of the net from 20 yards out.

Figo created another chance in the 78th minute when he was tripped by Yahya Golmohammadi on the edge of the box. French referee Eric Poulat pointed to the spot.

Ronaldo coolly stepped up for the penalty and drove it cleanly home to stretch Portugal's lead. Luiz Felipe Scolari punched the air in delight as Ronaldo sank to his knees.

Rasoul Khatibi wasted a great chance to level for Iran, just minutes after coming on to the field. With the Portugal defence indisarray, he received a long ball in the box but his shot glanced across the face of the goal.