U-20 World Cup: Satellites get lifeline
Ghana’s Under-20 team, Black Satellites, still have a chance to salvage their ailing World Cup campaign tomorrow when they take on United States of America in the Turkish city of Kayseri in the hope of qualifying for the knockout stages.
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The Satellites travelled to Kayseri — about 700km from Istanbul where the team played their two group matches — and must beat the Americans by at least a 2-0 margin for a chance to qualify as one of the best three qualifiers from groups B, C, D and F for the next round.
But that could be another major undertaking for the Ghanaians whose composure had been blasted by two sobering defeats at the hands of France and Spain, who topped Group A to guarantee the Europeans’ place at the next stage of the competition.
The battles for the best three in the above groups have already been set against the best in group B, C, D and A at Kayseri, Trabzon, Gaziantep and Istanbul respectively for the second round slot ahead of the quarter-finals.
Despite the tight corner the 2009 World Youth Champions find themselves, George Afriyie, chairman of the Satellites Management Committee, remains hopeful the team will make full use of the lifeline handed them to bounce back into the competition.
USA coach, Tab Ramos, galvanised by his side’s 1-1 draw with France last Monday, told the media his side had a better chance of qualifying because comparatively, his team were a better quality side than the Ghanaians.
Of course, Ramos was waxing lyrical during a post-match interview immediately after their game against France, but he probably must be revising his notes after the Satellites lost 0-1 to Spain in a thriller hours later.
Indeed, the Ghanaians were vastly an improved side from the uninspiring team that were given a severe 3-1 thrashing by France in the opening game last Friday, as Sellas Tetteh’s charges played with much passion and aggression, largely due to the introduction of Italy-based Richmond Boakye-Yiadom, Baba Rahman, Seidu Salifu and Clifford Aboagye to the starting line-up. But the team generally lacked quality, especially in attack, coupled with sloppy marking at the rear, as they failed to claw even a point in two games.
Of course, Boakye-Yiadom was not particularly lucky against Spain last Monday. In two crucial moments between the 52nd and 56th minutes, he brilliantly shot at close range after a 360-degree turn but his volley flew past the bar by inches, then, his glancing header stabbed the side net to the relief of Spanish goalkeeper, Daniel Sotres.
Such was the spirited show of the Ghanaians against the Spaniards that they pinned the Europeans to their half for almost the entire second half and probably were unlucky not to have been rewarded with a penalty three minutes to the end of the match after substitute striker Ebenezer Assifuah was uppended in the box by a desperate Israel Puerto.
That genuine appeal for a penalty was ignored by the referee much to the chagrin of the local fans who threw their weight behind the Ghanaians in last Monday’s crucial game at the Ali Sami Yen Stadium.
Obviously, Coach Tetteh, having led the Satellites’ troubled outing in Turkey, will seize the opportunity presented his team with glee, hoping that other results will work in his favour to see the Ghanaians through.
Preview: Andy Quao, Instabul
