Congo Brazzaville 2-3 Ghana: Jordan Ayew bangs in winner as Stars labour

A spirited second half comeback from the Red Devils of Congo was thwarted by a last minute goal from Jordan Ayew as they shared honors with the Black Stars of Ghana on the grand opening of the magnificent Kintele stadium in Brazzaville.

Goals from Harrison Afful and Richmond Boakye Yiadom put Avram Grant's team on the front foot in the first half against their Congolese counterparts but they almost gave the game away as Claude Le Roy and his wards mounted a remarkable second half comeback.

Grant was forced to draft in T.P Mazembe's Daniel Nii Adjei and defender Lawrence Lartey from the Black Meteors to start the game against Claude Le Roy's side and both players had an impact in the outcome especially Nii Adjei who operated well from midfield. With several key players rested on the bench,several of Grant's starting line up were keen to make an impression on the boss as the Black Stars laid siege to the Congolese defensive third,creating chance after chance.

The first of such chances was taken by defender and stand-in captain Harrison Afful who took advantage of lax defending to take advantage of Congo's goalkeeper Mafoumbi.Nii Adjei's influence was growing and he was behind the second goal as a thunderous drive from him was saved but fell to Richmond boakye Yiadom who scored his fifth international goal for the Black Stars in the 18th minute.

Ghana rung the changes in the second half with Fatau Dauda replacing Razak Braimah in goal while Jordan Ayew also made an appearance. It was Congo however who grew stronger as the half wore on and they pulled a goal back in the 60th minute through Moubhio. With the partisan home crowd cheering them on,Congo poured forward in droves as Fatau Dauda and his defence worked to preserve Ghana's lead. Avram Grant also replaced midfielder Bernard Mensah with Asamoah Gyan in a bid to stall the Congolese onslaught but it all came to nigh as the Congolese found the equaliser in the 85th minute through Dore.

Jordan Ayew who had endured a week to forget after the story of his affair with team mate Afriyie Acquah's wife was leaked came to the rescue of the team as he poked in an injury time winner to ensure Ghana will head off into its AFCON qualifier agaisnt Rwanda on September 5 full of confidence.

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