Black Princesses suffer defeat against USA in Group D
Ghana suffered a heavy defeat in the group D encounter with the United States at the ongoing U-20 Women’s World Cup in Costa Rica, conceding as early as the 11th minute of the game.
The Black Princesses, one of two African representatives at the tournament had a bad day on the pitch having already suffered a heartbreak prior to the match after skipper of the side and African Young Player of the Year (Women) Evelyn Badu was ruled out with an ankle injury.
Coach Ben Fokuo named a lineup that also excluded 2018 U-17 Women’s World Cup Golden Boot winner Abdulai Mukarama with Northern Ladies arrowhead Salamatu Abdulai leading the lines and supported by Sharon Sampson, Doris Boaduwaa and Suzzy Dede Teye.
The US ladies got the opener after 11 minutes of play when Michelle Ivory Cooper shot them in the lead. Being one goal behind, the Princesses went down by one woman when the Video Assistant Referee review on a tackle by Jacqueline Owusu resulted in a red card for the Emek Hefer Women’s midfielder a minute after the half-hour mark.
That soon became an advantage for The Stars and Stripes to pounce on a doubled their lead through Alyssa Paola Thompson in the 38th-minute.
A resilient team Ghana held on to end the first 45 minutes losing by those two goals. However, that only lasted six minutes after the break before Alysson Marie Sentnor made it 0-3 for the Yanks as they took saw off a comfortable win over the Africans who are making their sixth appearance at the tournament with the hope of advancing beyond the groups stages for the first time.
Ghana will be in action on Sunday at 5 pm against Japan who beat The Netherlands by a lone today while the USA will play the Netherlands at 11 pm on the same day.
