Italy 2 Ghana 0: Italy calmed by Pirlo's pearl and impish Iaquinta

Another nervous night for one of the game's traditional powers ended, again, in the old order being reaffirmed but there was plenty in Ghana's World Cup debut to fuel the belief that insurrection is on the horizon, somewhere.

Italy, like England, Argentina and Germany, were unable to impose their game on eager, committed and skilled opponents. But, like Paraguay, the Ivory Coast and Costa Rica, the would-be revolutionaries were found wanting in both penalty boxes. Goals late in each half from Andrea Pirlo and Vincenzo Iaquinta thus gave Italian football brief relief from the scandal which has engulfed Serie A.

They also have another diversion to occupy themselves, a new injury scare for Francesco Totti. Having played nearly an hour, the golden boy of Italian football was about to be replaced when a heavy tackle forced his departure. "We do not think it is serious," said Marcello Lippi, but it was clear he did not know.

Totti's class showed in touches but his most notable contribution was one of brute power, a 33rd-minute drive from a tapped free-kick which Richard Kingston was relieved to tip over. The Turkish-based goalkeeper had been riding his luck until then with the Ghanaian woodwork thrice rattled. In the seventh minute a cross from Fabio Grosso rasped the bar; in the 20th Luca Toni thumped a volley against the bar, before Kingston diverted Gilardino's shot against the post.

This may suggest Italy were laying siege to Kingston's goal but the Black Stars were creating just as many opportunities. It seems there are no certainties in Italian football any more. Their fabled defence kept a clean sheet only because of the wayward finishing of the Ghanaian forward line.

Italy's midfield enforcer Rene Gattuso will be welcomed back as soon as he is remotely fit. "In parts of the match they were stronger than us," said Lippi, "but we had something more overall. I'm happy and satisfied."

Given the quality of counter-attacking both sides had displayed, the breakthrough, when it came, was a surprise. Totti rolled a 39th-minute corner back to Pirlo who whipped in a hopeful shot. With Gilardino ducking, it flew past the unsighted Kingston.

Ghana, with Michael Essien showing the sort of form which prompted Jose Mourinho to pay £24m for him, continued to drive forward and Essien himself brought a flying save from Gianluigi Buffon.

But Ghana's commitment to attack inevitably led to chances for the three-time champions. Gilardino, released by Totti, brought a decent save from Kingston who then pulled off a superb one to deny Simone Perotta, the second of two chances which the Roma midfielder had spurned.

So Ghana kept pressing, hoping, and Asamoah Gyan might have had a late penalty when he fell under twin challenges. The Brazilian referee, well placed, waved play on and it was soon over. Sami Kuffour, who plies his trade in Italy, left a backpass short and Iaquinta stole upon the opportunity, rounding Kingston to set the tricolours waving. "We made two mistakes," said Ratomir Dujkovic, "but I still believe we can qualify". This city, with a prominent statue of Martin Luther, to which the city's authorities have attached a football, had seemed an appropriate place in which to challenge the establishment but, for a night at least, Italian football had its pride back.