U-20 Women’s World Cup qualifier...Princesses cut Kenya to size
Ghana's Black Princesses have put their best foot foward towards qualifying for the Under-20 Women’s World Cup (WWC) in France next year with a convincing 5-0 win over their Kenyan opponents in the first leg of the second round of the qualifiers played at the Cape Coast Stadium yesterday.
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Typical of most away teams, the Kenyans approached the game with a well-rehearsed defensive strategy to thwart the Ghanaians, at least for the first half, but it turned out to be a bad strategy as the Princesses took charge of business and scored five unanswered goals, to have a comfortable lead going into the second leg in Nairobi in two weeks.
The Princesses made their intentions clear as early as the sixth minute, but Princella Adubea's goal was ruled off side by Assistant Referee One from Nigeria, Mimisen Agatha Iyorhe.
Ghana continued to probe for the opener until Helena Obeng's rebound finally broke the deadlock on the 27th minute.
The Princesses continued with their onsalught with midfield general Grace Asantewaa delightfully distributing the ball as the Ghanaians kept pushing for the cushioning. Princesses striker Princella Adubea, received a through pass from Sandra Owusu Ansah which she placed beyond the reach of the on rushing Kenyan goalkeeper Vivian Corazone Aquino Odhiambo for the second goal on the 32nd minute.
Adubea, who was the toast of the sparse but encouraging crowd, capitalised on a loose ball and through a solo effort, beat two Kenyan defenders to score her second goal and Ghana's third, 10 minutes later.
When the second session began, the Black Princesses continued with their dominance and pressed for more goals. They greatly benefited from the telepathic move between Owusu Ansah and Adubea which saw the striker making it four for Ghana to also record her hat-trick as she became a thorn in the flesh of the Kenyans.
The Princesses never took their feet off the pedal and 2016 SWAG Female Footballer of the Year, Adubea, put the icing on the cake with her fourth on the day and Ghana’s fifth in the game, on the 69th minute.
