MATCH REPORT: ETHIOPIA 0-1 GHANA

Venue: Free State Stadium (South Africa)

Kick Off: 17:00 GMT

Going into the last group game, Ethiopia had nothing to loss as they had lost all two previous games. Ghana on the other hand had to only avoid defeat to make it through to the next stage.

It seemed  both teams were pretty cautious of each other as they always kept the ball to themselves at the early stages of the game, but it was Ghana who made early incursion as Saidu Bancey had  the first attempt on goal when  he headed wide following  a cross free kick from Micheal Akuffo  the left hand side of attack in the 3^rd min.

 But the Ethiopia’s came on with some sweet touches in the middle of the park sending signals to Ghana of the threat they can cause. After 10 min of play, it was all Ethiopia controlling the pace of the game. Things seemed not to be working for Ghana.  Ethiopia striker Omod had his shot saved by goalkeeper Stephen Adams in the 11^th min. Ghana’s Micheal Akuffo could have put the Black Stars  ahead in the 13^th min as he blew a free kick over the bar from a promising position. Ghana’s first  clear chance came in the 18 min after Latif Mohammed capitalized on a defensive bladder with his pacy runs only to blow it over the bar.

 Ethiopia quickly responded 2min later as they came close to score in the 20^th min when goalkeeper Stephen Adams was forced to make a save from a corner kick.  In the 23^rd min Micheal Akuffo had his well taken carpet shot saved by the Ethiopian goalkeeper. Ghana seemed to have settled into the game gradually after a shaky start. In the 25 min right back Joshua Tijani had his shot blocked by the Ethiopian defense following a good one-two with Saidu Bancey. The Ethiopians who really looked disciplined and promising on the field of play seemed to have lacked confident in front of goal as they always lost the ball to the Ghanaians at the final third  of the pitch. Paul Asare De Vries was starting his  first game for the Stars had his shot blown wide in the 33^rd min.

 In the 36^th min Ethiopian striker Omod who had tormented Ghana through out the first half had his header go just wide following a cross from the right had side of attack. Ethiopian captain Adane had his spectacular bicycle kick go just across the bar. Ethiopia still looked promising. Ghana goalkeeper Stephen Adams once again was forced to put up a save in the 40^th min after a strike from Salahadin Hussien. The white antelopes had really kept the Black Stars on their toes as they had completely dominated the entire first half. But stats indicated ball possession to be 50%-50%. The first half however ended goaless.

Ghana began the 2^nd half very bright controlling the first 5 min of the 2^nd half. Ethiopia nearly scored an own goal from a corner kick. Maxwell Konadu inserted two qick changes   in the 52^nd  and 54 min when Aseidu Attobrah came on for Latif Mohammed who seemed not to have had a perfect game, as well as Samuel Afful also coming on for Paul Asare  to strengthen the midfield.

Ethiopia survived a scare in the 55^th min when Richard Mpong headed in a cross from Joshua Tijani but no Ghanaian player was in the box to connect. Micheal Akuffo had his free kick  go just wide in the 57^th min. In the 60^th min, a teasing header from Ethiopia forward Omod caught goalkeeper Stephen Adams ball watching as the ball  went wide. Ghana survived a scare from Omod when he blew his shot wide in the 64^th min following a counter break. Ethiopian winger Beriola had his strike on target as he pulled out a wonderful volley, but goalkeeper Stephen Adams was right on his spot.

In the 66^th min Kwabena Adusei’s header was punched to a corner kick by goalkeeper Jamal. In the 69^th min Adane Gierema had his shot go off target. Joshua Tijani was booked in the 70^th min after a reckless challenge on Ethiopian defender Ababew. Ghana was forced to make a substitution in the 72^nd min when Theophilous Annobah came on for Richard Mpong after he picked up a knock.

After working tiredly in the second half, Ghana finally gets themselves rewarded with a penalty kick  in the 75^th min after Saidu Bansey was brought down in the penalty box by defender Salahadin Hussien with defender Kwabena Adusei calmly slotting home a perfect kick sending the goalkeeper to the wrong way.

 The Black Stars kept their composure in the last 10 min of the game. After 4 min of additional time Ghana run away with all 3 points. Ghana toped the group with 7 points and will now stay at Free State against the runners up in group D.

LINE UP: Stephen Adams, Joshua Tijani, Francis Morton, Nuru Sulley, Kwabena Adusei, Micheal Akuffu, Jordan Opoku, Richard Mpong/Theophilous Annobah, Latif Mohammed/Aseidu Attobrah, Paul De-Vries Asare/Samuel Afful, Saidu Bancey.

By: Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi