African Youth Championship: Ghana hammer Ethiopia 4-0 to progress to final hurdle

Black Satellites produced a sensational goal scoring performance on Monday afternoon at the new Cape Coast Sports Stadium to hammer Ethiopia 4-0 in the second leg of the African Youth Championship qualifier.

The match had been rained off on Sunday and the Ghana Football Association in consultation with CAF decided to kick off the replay at 12 noon, following the rainy season in Ghana.

Ghana lost the first leg 2-1 in Addis Ababa, so have advanced 5-1 on aggregate.

It was a thrilling showpiece from the U-20 lads who dazzled the indigenes of Cape Coast who had a free entry as a placating gesture from the authorities to boost support for the team on a working Monday.

Ghana wasted no time to finish off the Ethiopians as Yaw Yeboah headed home the first goal in the 6th minute from a free kick sent in by Jeofrey Acheampong. The Lille midfielder was found by the accurate cross from his left back at the far post and he managed to direct the ball back to the first post with a good nod.

Ghana doubled their lead after two minutes when Dauda Mohammed had a pass from Kingsley Fobi in front of the box to dribble his way into the box before unleashing a clever finish with the front side of his boot. That was a good reciprocity from the Kotoko striker whose name, when mentioned by the stadium announcer before kick-off was received by a massive cheering response.

The energy exerted in getting the aggregate advantage by Ghana was slowed a bit after the two goals. Coach Mas Ud Didi Dramani was pushing his players to get going hard and with much urgency.

The visitors kept to their game of solid control and running on the flanks but a stalwart defending from Ghana curtailed the lurking dangers. On two occasions, the Ethiopians were just unlucky that their strikers were moving fast ahead of the through passes to those good moves flagged for offside.

Yaw Yeboah had a good shot from 25 meters parried by Shanko and another good run from the midfielder provided a pass to Jonas Osabutey but his finish was also blocked.

Osabutey however missed an unpardonable chance before break. The striker intelligently anticipated a back pass and had his inclination happen and after miskicking his first attempt, he turned and found the ball behind the goalie but fluffed the opportunity with a yawning net at his mercy from 9 yards.

The game continued just as it started at noon as Ghana had two quick chances to do damage over the Ethiopians. Evans Mensah cut in from the right to drive a hammering shot from 20 yards but was punched by the goalie.

The comfortable goal Satellites needed came in the 57th minute as Evans Mensah dashed to receive a brilliant through pass from Yaw Yeboah to finish off the ball at the bottom corner of the near post from close range.

Evans had a similar chance like the one he scored but a great save from the goalie denied him a brace after Shanko palmed out the curling ball from the winger.

The seal of impressive victory came from the foot of Yaw Yeboah as he closed the chapter of history on the day when the 16,000 seater stadium hosted its first competitive match.

Yeboah scored a tremendous free kick from 25 yards in the 75th minute. It was a piece of beauty from Yeboah with his calmness, steps and his curler over the human wall. He scored the opener and the closure. His experience as a player who won the Most Valuable Player two years ago in the CAF U-20 tourney was reproduced on homeland to win many hearts of the fans.

Ghana will take on Senegal in the final qualifying stage of the competition.