MILTON KEYNES, England (AP)—Substitute Quincy Owusu-Abeyie scored a late goal Saturday to help Ghana beat Latvia 1-0 in its final warmup match before the World Cup in South Africa.

Owusu-Abeyie shot past Latvia goalkeeper Andris Vanins in the 89th minute.

Until then, Ghana had failed to convert its many chances, including in the 31st when Asamoah Gyan’s powerful shot hit the underside of the bar and bounced back onto the line.

In the 41st, Kwadwo Asamoah shot wide of the left post. In the second half, Derek Boateng saw his low drive ruled out for apparent pushing.

“For us the most important thing was that no player got injured,” Ghana coach Milovan Rajevac said. “So after today’s match, everything is OK.”

Ghana, which reached the final of the African Nations Cup this year, lost to the Netherlands 4-1 Tuesday.

At the World Cup, the Black Stars open Group D play against Serbia on June 13, and then face Australia and Germany.

Ghana’s hopes of progressing through the group phase were dealt a blow when Chelsea midfielder Michael Essien was ruled out of the World Cup after failing to fully recover from an injury to his left knee. Also, Inter Milan midfielder Sulley Muntari is undergoing physiotherapy for a problem on his left thigh.

Ghana will be making its second appearance at the World Cup. Four years ago in Germany, Ghana got through a difficult group that included Italy and the Czech Republic, but eventually lost to Brazil in the first knockout round.

Latvia did not qualify for the World Cup.

Lineups:

Ghana: Daniel Adjei, Samuel Inkoom, Lee Addy, Isaac Vorsah, John Mensah (Jonathan Mensah, 58), Anthony Annan, Kevin-Prince Boateng (Derek Boateng, 67), Prince Tagoe (Quincy Owusu-Abeyie, 58), Andrew Ayew (Matthew Amoah, 82), Kwadwo Asamoah (Stephen Appiah, 58), Asamoah Gyan (Dominic Adiyiah, 46).

Latvia: Andris Vanins, Oskars Klava, Vitalijs Astafjevs (Vladimirs Kolesnicenko, 79), Juris Laizans (Maksims Rafalskis, 46), Deniss Ivanovs, Dzintars Zirnis, Pavels Mihadjuks, Genadijs Solonicins, Andrejs Pereplotkins (Ritus Krjauklis, 83), Artjoms Rudnevs (Arturs Karasausks, 58), Kristaps Grebis.