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Scrappy lucky Ghana gets to quarter finals
By Veronica Commey, GNA correspondent in Egypt, courtesy
Ministry of Youth and Sports
Ismailia, Oct 6, Ghanadot/GNA –
Ghana’s Black Satellites went scrappy but lucky to snatch an
extra time goal and stole victory from the jaws of the
Amajitas of South Africa in a 2-1 dicey knockout game played
at the Ismailia Stadium, to earn a place in the quarter
finals at the FIFA U-20 World Cup.
Ghana relied on an extra time first half goal to turn around
the game the Amajitas had wrapped around their finger for
most part of the game when Dominic Adiyiah stroke on the
turn to give Ghana a lead that they protected with zest.
The Satellites started beyond slow and conceded the midfield
battle early in a manner that exposed the extent of effect
the absence of creative midfielder, Rabiu Mohammed was
having on the team touted as favourite ahead of the duel.
Severally it was goalkeeper Daniel Adjei who brought his
talent and abilities to bear by pulling incredible saves
such as a powerful dead ball by South African’s Thulani
Serero to keep the Satellites in the game.
Ghana was lucky not to have conceded a goal by the end of
the first half, and when they returned from recess with a
flatter to deceive spirit, many thought the tables were
about to turn but alas, it was the Amajitas that were to
strike first in 58 minutes.
In one of their many incursions, Kermit Erasmus beat an
offside trap and with the defenders caught ball watching and
awaiting a signal from referee Peter Leary, the player
rounded up Adjei before planting deep into the net to send
the scanty South African fans dotted around the 18,500
capacity arena chanting.
The Satellites for the first time rouse up to the challenge
and began settling down and occasionally pouring out in
search of an equalizer that was to arrive five minutes after
the hour through skipper Andre Ayew who headed home from
David Addy’ free kick.
The fight for another goal intensified and lasted through
the 90 minutes duration and when the 30 minutes extra time
was ushered in, it was Ghana whose dominance became telling
as Ransford Osei, who had been caged all afternoon, was
replaced by Opoku Agyemang.
Ghana’s edge in attack then became a bit stable and whiles a
few chances far and in-between were wasted, Adiyiah stroke
when the iron was still hot with a masterpiece of the turn
when he pick up a flying pass just after the area to beat
goalkeeper Darren Keet only nine minutes into the first half
of extra time.
Agyeman was to receive a questionable second caution moments
later and playing with one man less, South Africa began
drawing rings around the Satellites but the African
Champions held on to set up a date with Korea Republic in
quarterfinals in Suez on Friday.
Line-up of Ghana’s Black Satellites:
Daniel Adjei, Samuel Inkoom, David Addy,Daniel Addo,
Jonathan Mensah, Agyeman Badu, Abeiku Quansah, Gladson Awaku/John
Benson, Ransford Osei/Opoku Agyeman, Andre Ayew and Dominic
Adiyiah.
GNA
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