South Africa crush Black Stars to lead World Cup qualification chase
South Africa has started a journey of revenge against Ghana as both sides seek the sole ticket out of the group in their World Cup qualification campaign. What a sweet revenge it will be after the Black Stars played a huge role in denying them qualification to next year’s African Cup of Nations?
Following a lacklustre performance by the Black Stars against Ethiopia in Cape Coast and coupled with the loss of seven players who played important roles in that match against Ethiopia, the Stars struggled for ideas for nearly the entire 90 minutes.
Coach Akonnor brought in seven new faces to replace the departed six players and Iddrisu Baba whom he left on the bench for today’s clash against the Bafana Bafana and Hector Cuper’s side took advantage of the weakened team to get the maximum points.
Ghana laboured throughout the first 45 minutes with South Africa taking the game to the Stars who struggled to string consecutive passes together. Joel Fameyeh playing as the lone striker looked isolated and heading to the end of the half, Andre Ayew who move deeper allowing Fameyeh to drop back into midfield roamed alone in the South African half without support.
A couple of counters launch by the black Stars didn’t end anywhere close to the South African box as Ghana often lacked any personnel in the opponent’s half to execute counterattacks. Ghana was let off when Richard Ofori spilt a free-kick but was fortunate the attacker at hand could not control the ball and direct it into the net. It was not long after when the South Africans sent the ball into the net but were rightfully denied by the assistant referee’s flag giving Ghana some hope to end the half unharmed.
A second half to forget would then follow with South Africa missing another golden opportunity when Richard Ofori failed to catch the ball as it passed under his legs. The South African man who got to the ball early could only however play defensive by guiding the ball outside for a goal kick. Ofori injured himself in the process but after getting attention from the medical staff, elected to continue the game.
Akonnor made changes, bringing on Kwame Opoku for Joel Fameyeh on the hour mark before taking Andre Ayew off for Samuel Owusu in the 71st minute. That could not change the look of the Stars as they still laboured. Richard Ofori went down again holding his tight with 12 minutes to play in regulation time. Lawrence Ati-Zigi finally replaced the Orlando Pirates goalkeeper and Iddrisu Baba coming in for Majeed Ashimeru. with barely 10 minutes to play.
The Bafana Bafana tireless incursion into the Ghana area finally also yielded the needed results as Bongokuhle Hlongwane profited from a goalmouth scramble to net the solitary goal in the match in the 83rd minuteto hand over all three points to South Africa. The result means South Africa is now leading Group G with four points and Ghan are second temporarily ahead of Ethiopia versus Zimbabwe match tomorrow which will end this round of matches until the next international break in October.
By: Clifford Adumbire | myactiveonline.com
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