MEDEAMA CRUSHED OUT OF CAF CONFEDERATION CUP; LOST ON PENALTIES

Ghana’s lone representative in Africa Medeama SC were crushed out of the CAF Confederation cup on Sunday afternoon after losing 5-6 on penalties to 2012 Champions AC Leopards of Congo.

The Mauves who were fervent to overcome a 2-0 deficit in the first league were unable to get a goal in the first half of the game after dominating. The Ghanaian side had the opportunity to put themselves in front after they were awarded a penalty just 7min into the game only for Midfielder Micheal Helegbe to blow it away.

After dominating the first 45min, the game ended goalless. Back from recess, Medeama did not leave any stone unturned as they kept on fighting for the opening goal. But it was goalkeeper Muntari Tagoe who broke the deadlock in the 74^th min when he perfectly converted a penalty kick after striker Nathaniel Asamoah had been brought down in the 18 yard box.

The Mauves however got their second goal 5min later when midfielder Hans Koffie blasted home a shot from 35 yards to give Medeama a 2-0 lead making the aggregate score 2-2.

Medeama could have got the winning goal in the dying embers of the game after substitute Theophilous Annobah took on two defenders and laid a nice pass to Kwame Boahene in the 18 yard box only for the midfielder to blow it over the bar. 

After 3min of additional time, the game had to be decided on penalty shootouts. Goalkeeper Muntari Tagoe, Hans Koffie, Theophilous Annobah, Victor Ayire and Nathaniel Asamoah all converted their kicks. With Henry Enchill and Joseph Jackson missing their kicks which eventually denied the Ghanaian side a place at the group stage.

By Frank Darkwah

Follow Frank Darkwah on twitter.@Blaqqkoffi