body-container-line-1
27.01.2015 Sports News

Last minute Stars: Late strike sends Ghana through

By Allsports.com.gh
Last minute Stars: Late strike sends Ghana through
27.01.2015 LISTEN

Big name players they say rise to the occasion when the stakes are high. And just when the criticism of his tournament was rising to deafening levels, Dede Ayew rose to head Ghana into the quarter finals of the 2015 Nations Cup with the Black Stars starring at a first round exit.

The Black Stars have mastered the art of leaving us nervous for long spells before striking and this gripping group C game did not fail in providing that sort of drama.

After Gyan's heroics against Algeria, it was Dede Ayew, another of the experienced names in the side who broke through South Africa's porous offside trap to head home a fabulous cross from Baba Rahman at left back.

The goal came just around the same time Algeria had scored a second against Senegal, at which point Ghana was heading home at the expense of Senegal on the head-to-head record.

For much of the second half Ghana huffed and puffed, hit long hopeful balls without any particular method and made life incredibly easy for the South Africans. And that was despite the fact that Ghana has started the game the better of the two sides.

Avram Grant made one change to the Ghana side, bringing in Mubarak Wakaso for Emmanuel Agyemang Badu as an attacking move but stuck to the attacking options which meant Jordan Ayew, his brother Dede and Christian Atsu all started.

South Africa coach Shakes Mashaba had meanwhile named a third new goalkeeper for the game and Ghana's intent early on seemed very clear; to test and rattle him as much as they could.

Jordan Ayew had the best opening of the opening half when he shot tamely into the hands of goalkeeper Khuzwayo from six yards before the goalkeeper dived at his feet to block the follow up effort.

Ghana were in the mood and asking all the right questions in addition to possession but out of nowhere South Africa took the lead through a stunning effort of Mandla Masango. Daniel Amartey's headed clearance fell to the Kaizer Chiefs man who took it on his chest and unleashed a volley beyond the despairing Razak Braimah.

Ghana were shaken but poured forward in search of a response with Khuzwayo saving superbly from a stinging Baba Rahman effort. But as Ghana went in search of the equaliser, there beginning to be big cracks at the back and South Africa nearly benefitted from one when Braimah saved from Ndulula.

With Algeria winning one-nil at half time, Ghana was heading out but you would not have noticed that in the approach to the second. It was dominated by wayward passes, long hopeful balls and too many players who were having off-days.

Dede Ayew was poor, Jordan Ayew looked lost and the only moments we caught glimpses of Atsu was when the camera picked him up for a misplaced cross. It was getting frustrating as South Africa sat back and dealt comfortably with everything Ghana threw at them.

Soon though Avram Grant acted, throwing on striker Kwesi Appiah and Agyemang Badu in a double substitution that seemed to re-ignite the team.

Soon the balls seemed with more purpose and the full backs seemed liberated. And with Dede Ayew a lot more involved towards the end, Ghana's equaliser finally arrived.

It was another punt forward but this time Dede Ayew trapped it in the box, hit a way shot that fell to substitute John Boye. His control for a defender was spot but the finish through the legs of Khuzwayo on 73 minutes.

With 17 minutes of the game remaining, Ghana were sensing their opportunity. Another substitute Kwasi Appiah should have had the Black Stars in front but Khuzwayo was quick to the ground to push his effort unto the post.

A series of Ghana corner kicks followed as the Black Stars pounded the Bafana goal area but the cutting edge was just not there. That was until Rahman and Dede Ayew intervened.

With Khuzwayo in no man's land, Dede nodded in his second goal of the tournament, thought briefly that he had been caught offside and then run to huge celebrations with the Ghana bench. It was a crucial goal because it takes Ghana through to the quarter finals.

It will be the fifth straight tournament that Ghana has been through the knockout stages of the Nations Cup. And the comeback win continued a superb Ghana run of14 games in which they have lost only twice.

Bafana Bafana had meanwhile won just one of their last 14 Afcon games and kept two clean sheet in the process. That gulf in class and experience is what told in the end.

And thankfully from a Ghanaian perspective the Black Stars live to tight another day.

"This article is brought to you by cheki.com.gh , Ghana's #1 Car website and official Online Sponsor of the Black Stars"

body-container-line