Ghana promise to return

GHANA have promised to return to west London for another match after beating African rivals Togo 2-0 in Tuesday night's international friendly at Brentford's Griffin Park writes Dave Peters.

The Black Stars - who included Chelsea's £24 million pound midfielder Michael Essien in their side - sealed their victory with two second half goals made by skipper Stephen Appiah.

Ghana fielded a strong line up including many players who performed at the recent World Cup Finals in Germany as they came up against their big rivals the Hawks, who also qualified for the World Cup Finals.
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And the two sides put on a feast of football in front of a sparse but passionate crowd whose excitement spilled over at the end of the game with a pitch invasion which forced the abandonment of the official trophy presentation.

Ghana dominated proceedings but had to wait until the hour mark before taking lead as their finishing and final ball continually let down their skilful approach play.

Essien's crossfield pass picked out Appiah and the skilful Fenerbache man skipped past one defender before teeing up Razak Pimpong to drive home from 12 yards.

The game flew by with both sides intent on playing football and the ball was hardly ever kicked into touch as the two teams showed an abundance of flair.

Ghana were kept on their toes by a Togo side who were always dangerous on the break, but they made the game safe in the dying minutes when substitute Alex Tachie-Mensah converted Appiah's pinpoint cross from the left to give the scoreline a more credible look.

Ghana might have had more. Essien and Udinese midfielder Sulley Ali Muntari both shook the woodwork with thunderous drives from outside the box while Essien, who was a surprise inclusion after breaking his wrist in last Sunday's Community Shield, also went close with a spectacular overhead kick which the keeper Abdoul Nassirou Omourou got down to touch around the post for a corner.