body-container-line-1
17.10.2008 Sports News

Stars Lose To Bafana Bafana

By Daily Graphic
Stars Lose To Bafana Bafana
17.10.2008 LISTEN

A second string Black Stars led by Haminu Draman yesterday stumbled to a 2-1 defeat by South Africa's Bafana Bafana in an international friendly in Johanesburg.

The Black Stars, who played minus familiar limbs like Sulley Muntari, Richard Kingston and Stephen Appiah, kicked off in a spirited fashion and fetched the opener when young striker Yaw Antwi of Liberty Professionals fame fired from close range.

But the South Africans replied a minute later when their trusted striker, Benni MacCarhty, shot from the goalmouth, leaving goalkeeper Fatau Dauda completely stranded.

The two teams fought from this stage in search of the lead but it was the South Africans who kept defenders John Boye and Jonathan Quartey busy with some threatening forays in the Ghanaian half of the field.

With the game cruising to a draw, Bafana Bafana's striker, Benard Parker, emerged from the right side of the Ghanaian defence to head past goalkeeper Dauda in the 77th minute for the winner.

Coach Milovan Rajevac described the game as a useful exercise for his boys, most of whom were young and playing for the national team for the first time.

body-container-line