Ghana Wallop Lesotho 7-0

Two - goal hero Jordan Ayew takes on two Lesotho markers o

The Black Stars romped home to an emphatic 7-0 victory over the Crocodiles of Lesotho in a Group World Cup qualifier that was nearly truncated by a blackout at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

On the night when the team was sparkling, the floodlights sadly went dead after 54 minutes, not from power outage at the stadium but from what graphic.com.gh gathered was from a fault with the main transformer.

Disgusting enough - there was no technical person from the Electricity Company of Ghana ( ECG) anywhere near the transformer when the floodlights went off, and the stadium announcer was heard calling on the company technicians wherever they were to go to the transformer.

The match commissioner had to give the Ghanaian football officials ample time to work on the fault, and when the power was restored a number of the fans had already left the stadium.

A brace each from Dominic Adiyia and Jordan Ayew, and one apiece from Sulley Muntari, Christian Atsu and Jerry Akaminko set a cracking pace for the Stars as they seek a third straight qualification to the World Cup.

Playing his first competitive match as head coach, Akwasi Appiah was on track with his tactics in front of a passionate crowd and the Ghanaian coach savoured the victory by embracing his players one after the other after the game.

Enjoying dominant possession, the Ghanaian created a number of chances but it was not until the 16th minute that they breached the opponents' defence when skipper for the night Sulley Muntari scored a spectacular goal.

The AC Milan midfielder played a one-two with Emmanuel Agyemang Badu before unleashing a cracker beyond keeper Kholuoe Phasumane.

Down, but the visitors refused to give in and attempted to force their way into attack only to meet a rocky Ghanaian defence.

Come back attacker, Dominic Adiyiah, atoned for earlier misses when he turned Mokhehle Thapelo inside just outside the area before unleashing a pile driver for the second goal after 24 minutes.

Nerves took a better part of the Crocodiles and as they wobbled the Ghanaians took advantage to fetch the third goal through Jordan Ayew with a minute left on the clock for the first half.

Not content with the score line, Ghana went on the offence from recess and with the Lesotho defence back-pedalling, Adiyiah fetched his second on the 50th minute.

Four minutes later the floodlights went off and when power was restored, the electrifying pace with which the Ghanaian played never diminished.

With a midfield well oiled by the presence of Derick Boateng and Kwadwo Asamoah, Ghana stepped up the pace completely taking charge on the wings where most of the moves were initiated with Harrison Afful on left side of defence and Inkoom on the right back playing key roles.

Persistently the Black stars looked dangerous but they were unable to focus their attacks.

Coach Appiah made some substitutions and that brought some bite upfront with Portugal-based Atsu thrilling the crowd with some suburb footwork.

The Black stars were getting more men behind the ball and it came as no surprise when Atsu scored a spectacular debut goal on the 86th minute.

As the Crocodiles kept themselves on the back foot Ghana went for the kill again with Jordan Ayew scoring on the 90th minute while Akaminko completed the rout two minutes into added time.

graphic.com.gh