The Derby County man pounced in the opening seconds of the second half to race clear and rifle a shot into the left hand corner of the net.
It was a fifth successive clean sheet for the Socceroos with Mark Schwarzer putting in another quality display between the sticks.
Ghana had significant spells of pressure but couldn't find a way through, too many efforts being rifled in from distance.
There were few chances for Australia at the other end with Verbeek's men unable to create clear cut openings.
It was a significant night for Matthew Spiranovic though, entering the fray as a second half substitute and thereby committing his international future to Australia.

AUSTRALIA 1 GHANA 0

FULL-TIME: Australia 1 Ghana 0. Verbeek's men have done it. Mile Sterjovski's goal in the opening seconds of the second half proved enough. It was backs to the wall at times but the men in green and gold held firm, albeit riding their luck at times.

94 Agogo finds some space but his weak shot from the edge of the box is easy for Schwarzer.

92 Asamoah's flick, wonderful save by Schwarzer to push the ball around the right post. There's no wind-down here. It's action right to the death.

90 There will be four minutes of added time. Agogo goes down in the area under a challenge but again, no penalty. It's all Ghana. Can Australia hold on?

90 Powerful strike from the Ghana sub but again Schwarzer is in the right place to hold on.

89 Bridge cuts in from the left but completely miskicks on the edge of the area.

88 Thunderous strike blocked by Schwarzer, stood up well and Topor-Stanley completes the clearance.

86 A clumsy shirt tug by Sterjovski. A second yellow card and it's an early shower for Sterjovski!

84 It's been all Ghana for the past five to 10 minutes and Australia desperately need to relieve the pressure and find an outlet.

83 Poor challenge by Topor-Stanley on his Ghana opponent inside the area. You've seen penalties given for less!

83 Topor-Stanley blocks a ball down the right intended for Agogo.

81 Schwarzer comes racing out from his goal and gets there a fraction ahead of the onrushing Agogo to clear. He had to get it right.

80 Another good run from Kingston and his shot zooms wide of the right post but Schwarzer had it covered.

78 Double change for Australia. James Holland on for Jacob Burns. Nikolai Topor-Stanley introduced for David Carney.

77 Addo pokes a weak effort goalwards following a corner but it's easily gathered by Schwarzer who is now wearing the captain's armband.

76 Asamoah's cross clatters off Carney and out for a corner down the right. A good spell this for Ghana.

75 Agogo shot blocked and hacked clear by the Australian defence.

74 Asamoah's low cross from the right is thumoped clear at the near post by Beauchamp.

73 Australian change. Kewell makes way for Sydney FC's Mark Bridge.

72 Wonderful work down the right by Kingston followed by a great cross. Badu can't tuck away the opportunity.

71 Sterjovski surges down the right but his low cross is intercepted before it reaches Allsopp inside the area.

70 Joel Griffiths unable to stretch quite enough to beat keeper Owo to a through ball.

69 Addo ball forward easily cleared by Beauchamp.

68 Another poor clearance by Schwarzer but again it doesn't prove fatal.

67 Allsopp's introduction sees Joel Griffiths drop in just behind him.

66 Ghana make a change with Buaben replaced by Derek Asamoah.

65 Significant moment for Australia. On comes Matthew Spiranovic for his Socceroo debut. That puts paid to any notion that he could yet represent Croatia. Adam Griffiths makes way for Spira. On comes Danny Allsopp for James Troisi.

64 Kingston chips a cross into the box from the right and Schwarzer leaps to gather confidently.

63 Mensah plays bal over the top of the Australian defence but there's too much pace on it to allow Agogo to pounce.

61 Another effort from 25 metres or more is straight down the throat of Schwarzer.

60 Ghana win a corner down the right. Their first of the game and they waste it.

59 Joel Griffiths screams for a handball on the edge of the Ghana area but nothing given. It's all much better from Australia and there's a real buzz around the SFS now.

58 Jedinak penalised for a shirt tug on Buaben.

57 Ghana break quickly but yet another long distance effort screams over the crossbar, this time it's Badu the offender.

57 Australia win a corner down the right. Kewell takes it quickly, too quickly and it's cleared.

55 Ghana move down the left, the ball played across to Draman but he rifles over the top from distance.

54 Wonderful punt towards Carney by Schwarzer. Carney cuts in from the left but swiftly loses possession.

53 Adam Griffiths' cross from the right drifts on to the roof of the net.

53 Carney can't quite slip the ball through to Joel Griffiths.

52 Adam Griffiths makes a perfectly timed tackle inside the area to thwart Draman's charge in from the left.

50 Change for Ghana. Goalkeeper Amamoo goes off to be replaced by Owo.

49 Troisi flattened in a late challenge by Pantsil. He earns a booking.

48 Poor clearance from Schwarzer. The ball is whipped in low from the right but the Aussie keeper redeems himself to get down and smother.

46 GOAL: 1-0 Australia. Sterjovski surges forward and drills a powerful shot past the keeper from the edge of the area into the left-hand corner of the net. Just 48 seconds into the second half. Fantastic start to the second period.

46 Ghana get us underway again. No changes at the interval.

The teams come out for the second half but before we get underway we have the Ghana national anthem that was strangely absent before kick-off. Better late than never chaps.

HALF-TIME: Australia 0 Ghana 0. The visitors have had the better of proceedings for the most part. Harry Kewell and Joel Griffiths have been rather quiet. Ghana have denied their hosts time and space extremely well. The Australian defence has looked solid for the most part but Pim Verbeek will be looking for rather more creativity from players in the final third.

45 Kingston tries his luck with another long distance strike but the ball whistles high over Schwarzer's crossbar. We'll have one minute of added time.

44 Troisi can't quite pick out Sterjovski on the edge of the area. The ball runs away from him and Ghana are able to clear.

43 Australia spell of possession lacks any purpose and ends with a cheap throw in conceded by Adam Griffiths.

42 Agogo's cross from the right is charged down by Carney and the home side are able to clear the danger.

41 Sterjovski penalised for a foul on Mensah.

40 Schwarzer clatters into Agogo as the striker races on to Kingston's pass. No penalty given though.

39 Looping effort from Kewell dips just over the crossbar.

38 Agogo has a glimmer of an opening on the edge of the area but takes a fraction too long to shoot and Beuachamp makes a fine block.

37 Agogo tries his luck from a tight angle on the left but Schwarzer gets down to stop comfortably.

35 Adam Griffiths clears from Agogo on the edge of the box. Fouled as he tries to push the ball forward.

34 Agogo finds space in the six yard box but his control isn't good enough and the chance slips away. North is able to mop up.

33 Harrison tries hid luck from 22 metres but the shot flies over the top. A good spell for Ghana though. They're working hard to deny Australia time and space.

32 Troisi pushes down the left but loses possession. Kingston fires the ball towards Agogo but there's too much pace on it and it runs through to Schwarzer.

31 Carney cross secures a corner down the left for Australia but the Socceroos can't make anything of it.

30 Kewell turns inside the area and his cross-shot can't quite pick out Griffiths.

28 Free-kick comes to nothing as the ball squirts back into the arms of Schwarzer via North.

27 Sterjovski the first player to go into the book for a tackle from behind on Harrison.

26 Wonderful ball forward from North picks out Joel Griffiths in the right channel. His cross is cleared under pressure.

25 Kingston teed up for a strike and his low drive is comfortably saved from 20 metres by Schwarzer.

25 Sterjovski put clear by Adam Griffiths down the right but his cross is cleared at the near post.

24 Kingston penalised for handball. Carney takes a quick free-kick but immediately surrenders possession.

23 Kingston lofts in a cross for Agogo but the striker can only direct his header well wide of the right post.

22 Junior Agogo caught offside for Ghana.

21 Low cross from the left and great defending by Adam Griffiths to clear the danger at the near post.

20 First time volley from Sterjovski is on target but right down the throat of goalkeeper Amamoo.

19 Ghana win a throw down the left, level with the Australia penalty area but it's easily cleared.

18 Carney wins a throw on the left right on the halfway line.

17 Carney cross from the left tries to pick out Sterjovski but the keeper is able to gather.

15 Technical difficulties. Apologies.

14 Cross from Kingston on the right sails harmlessly over the crossbar.

12 Skipper Kewell penalised for a foul on the left byline.

11 Troisi tries to thread in a low cross from the left edge of the box but the ball is deflected clear.

10 Good tackle by Adam Griffiths to wrestle the ball away from Draman on the right edge of the box.

9 Joel Griffiths plays a ball in from the right but can't pick out Sterjovski.

8 Burns barged over on the edge of his own area. Schwarzer launches the ball forward. Sterjovski fouled by Harrison midway in the Ghana half. Kewell swings in the free-kick but it's headed clear.

7 Joel Griffiths bursts down the right but is halted by an offside flag.

6 Schwarzer thuds clear a rather understrength backpass from Jade North.

5 Kingston goes down injured after a strong challenge.

4 Mensah launches a free-kick into the Australia area but Beauchamp gets up well to head clear.

3 Schwarzer launches a goalkick forward but the ball is headed back into Australian territory.

2 Joel Griffiths penalised for a foul in the centre circle as he battles for possession.

1 Australia will get us underway at the SFS. Carney plays in Kewell. He tries to return the favour and the ball ricochets through to Ghana keeper Amamoo.

Oh dear, oh dear. For some reason the Ghana national anthem is not forthcoming from the public address system. Hardly a great start and will probably have fired up the visitors.

The Socceroos are expected to line up in a 4-2-3-1 formation with Joel Griffiths the most advanced striker with support from Harry Kewell, James Troisi and Mile Sterjovski.

Pim Verbeek has picked the following side to face Ghana: Mark Schwarzer, Michael Beauchamp, Jade North, Jacob Burns, Mile Jedinak, David Carney, Adam Griffiths, Harry Kewell, Mile Sterjovski, James Troisi, Joel Griffiths.

Ghana: William Amamoo, John Panstil, John Mensah, Anthony Annan, Laryea Kingston, Manuel Agogo, Prince Buabeng, Eric Addo, Badu Agyemang, Afful Harrison, Draman Haminu.