Black Stars back in control
Ghana's Black Stars took charge of their 2014 World Cup campaign after taking care of business with an emphatic 2-0 victory over Lesotho in Maseru yesterday to reclaim the top spot in their penultimate group qualifying match.
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Zambia’s inability to beat visiting Sudan following their 1-1 drawn game in Ndola last Saturday, paved the way for Kwasi Appiah’s team to take their destiny into their hands. And their emptatic victory over the Crocodiles in their own backyard ensured that the Stars took a one-point lead over the Chipolopolos ahead of their group decider in Ghana on September 6.
Sunday’s scoreline must be flattering, but it was a hard won victory for the Stars and a proof of their temperament and readiness to fight for one of Africa’s five World Cup slots as they were put under pressure by the Likuena (Crocodiles) who had nothing to lose except their pride.
However, after holding the Stars at bay and testing the rigidity of the Ghanaians’ defence for nearly 40 minutes, class persevered over cheer bravado as the host team were caught on the wrong foot.
Centre-back John Boye scored one of his rare goals when he soared above the Lesotho defence to connect home a well-taken Sulley Muntari freekick, flicked on by Jonathan Mensah, to give the Ghanaians a deserving 1-0 cushion before recess.
In the second half, Coach Appiah brought in young striker Dominic Adiyiah for Richmond Boakye-Yiadom, while Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu replaced Muntari. The changes paid off by adding steel to the Ghanaian midfield as the Stars won the midfield battle and eventually took control of the game.
Lesotho attempted to fight back but met strong opposition from the Stars who were determined to capitalise on Zambia’s slip the previous day. And deep into the second half, Coach Leslie Notsi was forced to replace his first choice goalkeeper, Mohau Kuenane, who picked up an injury. But his replacement, Phasumane Kholoue, could not prevent the Ghanaians from puting the game beyond the reach of the home team after Captain Asamoah Gyan scored to give Ghana a commanding 2-0 lead and making victory certain.
Gyan’s connection to Kwadwo Asamoah’s pass was blocked by substitute goalie Kholoue, but the ball bounced into the path of the marauding Ghanaian striker who scored his 35th international goal with a diving header and put the Black Stars back in the driving seat in Group D.
A relieved Ghana Football Association president, Kwesi Nyantakyi, in a post-match interview with the Ghanaian media in Maseru expressed the hope the Stars would maintain the winning ways to win the group: “It is a good result for us as it has eased the pressure on everyone ahead of the final game against Zambia.
“A draw will be good enough to keep us on top of the group standings, but we will be looking forward to maintaining our winning ways to the very end.”
Ghana: Fatau Dauda, Samuel Inkoom, Harrison Afful, John Boye, Jonathan Mensah, Mohammed Rabiu/Rashid Sumalia, Sulley Muntari/Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, Kwadwo Asamoah, Richmond Boakye Yiadom/Dominic Adiyiah, Asamoah Gyan, Christian Atsu.
Story: Rosalind K. Amoh / Graphic Sports