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Ghana overwhelms Morocco
Accra, Jan. 28, Ghanadot/GNA - A
vintage performance by Ghana's Black Stars, crowned with two
classic goals against Morocco in the last "Group A" game,
ensured a comfortable landing in the quarter finals of the
ongoing Ghana 2008 Africa Cup of Nations.
The Stars, playing to a new tactical plan following the
introduction of Anthony Annan in front of defence, with
Essien taking up a more attacking role, worked to perfection
for coach Claude Le Roy and rendered the Moroccans
ineffective in all departments of the game, except in the
air.
The Stars thus top the table with nine points and await the
runner up of "Group B" which would be decided on Tuesday
between Mali and Cote d'Ivoire in Accra and Nigeria and
Benin in Sekondi.
Though it was an excellent display from the Stars, the early
part of the game saw the team failing to make use of some
decent chances created, as Sulley Muntari's curling free
kick was parried over the bar in the 14th minute.
Poised to please the partisan crowd, after a disappointing
performance against Namibia, the Stars searched for the
opener and succeeded in the 25th minute, when Muntari's
free-kick chipped over the wall, saw Essien making a swift
connection to send the crowd into wild jubilation.
Four minutes later, a swift combination initiated by Annan
with support from Muntari and Essien located Asomoah Gyan
deep in the vital area of the Moroccans but he narrowly
missed the chance.
The Ghanaians remained dominant and pinned the Moroccans to
their own half on most occasions and it was evident that the
second goal was in the offing for the Stars.
This time, it was Essien who provided the premium for
Muntari to fetch the insurance goal in the 44th minute.
Essien - second time man of the match, set up Muntari, who
squeezed the ball past keeper Lamyaghri Nadir with his usual
left foot to end the half.
But for near misses on the part of the Ghanaians in the
second half, the Stars would have increased the tally by at
least two goals to reflect their domination.
In the 61st minute Agogo's flick hit the cross bar and a
rebound from Essien sailed over the bar.
Both coaches exhausted their substitution cards but none of
them benefited as the 2-0 score line stood intact till the
close of the game.
Line Up
Ghana - Richard Kinsgton, Hans Adu Sarpei, John
Paintsil, John Mensah, Eric Addo, Anthony Annan, Quincy
Owusu-Abeyie/Hamin Draman, Michael Essien, Junior Agogo/Andre
Ayew, Asamoah Gyan/Baffour Gyan, Sully Muntari.
Morocco - Lamyaghri Nadir, Micheal Basser, ouaddou
Abdeslam, Erbate Elamin, Kharja Houssine/Sektioui Tarik,
Safri Yossef, Charmakh Marouane, Kabous Abderrahmane, Hadji
Youseff, El kaddour Badr, Aboucherroune Hicham/Zerka Monsef
GNA
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