|
|
Ghana's Satellites beat Scorpions of Gambia
Accra, Sept 28, Ghanadot/GNA -
Ghana's Black Satellites gave hope to their chances of a
place at next year's African Youth Championship with a 2-1
hard fought victory over the Young Scorpions of Gambia in
the final round first leg clash at the Ohene Djan Stadium,
Accra on Sunday.
Rabiu Mohammed's second half strike and a deflection from
the body of Matarr Jobe of the Scorpions was enough to
neutralize Paul Jaita's 23rd minute lead and put the
Satellites in contention for a berth at the championships,
scheduled for Rwanda after their two unsuccessful attempts.
The fate of the Satellites would, however, be decided in a
fortnight in Banjul, the Gambian capital after the second
leg.
The Young Scorpions, a rising force in youth football, were
expected to be a tough nut for the Satellites, who reached
this far after brushing past Angola 5-2 on aggregate and the
game rightly turned out with the visitors really giving
their hosts some cause to worry ahead of the final leg.
The Satellites had to wait for well over a quarter of an
hour in search of their rhythm, after which the tactically
disciplined Gambians had taken the game to them.
The Satellites, who have been in camp for almost a month,
failed to play as a team with the likes of Rabiu and Sadick
Adams occasionally exhibiting traits of individual
brilliance.
On 23 minutes, the Gambians stunned the home crowd with the
opener through Jaita, whose curler Ghanaian goalkeeper
Joseph Addo back-heeled into his own net.
The Satellites from then fought on and were rewarded with a
penalty four minutes from half time after Rabiu was fouled
by Matarr, but captain Ransford Osei's kick from the spot
was dealt with expertly by Christopher Allen, much to the
chagrin of the enthusiastic crowd, who had earlier been
silenced by Jaita's opener.
Back from recess, coach Sellas Tetteh brought on Isaac
Donkor for Osei, who was more of a passenger, and the change
aided the team's quest for the equalizer.
In the 66th minute, Rabiu struck home the equalizer with a
close range shot that went through the legs of a sea of
Gambian defenders after Donkor had unselfishly passed the
ball to him during one of the team's raids unto their
opponent's half.
Charged by the equalizer, the Satellites remained on top and
two minutes later, Inkoom's powerful shot was deflected by
Matarr into the net to put the Ghanaians in the lead for the
first time.
The Hosts went in search of more goals, but the closest they
came was on the 86th minute mark, when substitute Ekow
Benson's shot from a free-kick near the edge of the Gambian
penalty area hit the crossbar and went into safety.
Moments after the final whistle by Congolese referee,
Moukoko Jean-Michel, the Gambians went wild into jubilation
apparently because they anticipated a win with a higher goal
margin when the two sides meet in Banjul for the second leg.
Line-up
Ghana - Joseph Addo, Ransford Osei/Isaac Donkor, Samuel
Inkoom, Paul Addo, Evans Quao, Philip Boampong, Agyemang
Badu, Gladson Awako/Ekow Benson, Rabiu Mohamed, Sadick
Adams, Mubarak Wakasoo
Gambia - Christopher Allen, Pa Modou Jagne, Pierre Gomez,
Abdou Njie, Paul Jaita/Alhagie Bun Gaye, Seni Sidibeh/Mustapha
Jaita, Amadou Sanyang, Matarr Jobe, Dimino Manneh/Cherno
Njie, Emmanuel Gomez, Ebrima Bojang
GNA
|
