Goals from Jordan Ayew, Wakaso Mubarak and
Andre Ayew sealed a comfortable win, but the game was marred by
shocking scenes in the stands that caused the game to be suspended in …
Download video: Ghana 3 – 0 Equatorial Guinea [Africa Cup Of Nations]
Highlights
Ghana clinched a place in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-0 win over Equatorial Guinea, but the night will be remembered for shameful scenes of violence between supporters which saw the match suspended for 30 minutes in the second half.
Jordan Ayew gave the Black Stars a 42nd-minute lead from the penalty spot before Mubarak Wakaso doubled their lead at the end of the first half.
But trouble broke out as Avram Grant’s team had to be shielded by police from objects thrown from the crowd as they left the field.
The home players pleaded for calm in the stands before the resumption but they were unable to negotiate a way back into the match as Andre Ayew sealed victory and a final spot against Ivory Coast with his third goal of the tournament.
Chaos then descended as the game entered its closing stages, with the game suspended for half an hour as a hail of objects were thrown by Equatorial Guinea fans into the visiting support.
Ghana supporters gathered on the running track behind one of the goals as they attempted to escape the missiles, while police used a helictoper and tear gas to disperse the offending fans.
The game eventually resumed with the clock set at 90 minutes and the Black Stars duly saw out the contest to reach the final where they will meet the Ivory Coast.
The game had started with Equatorial Guinea looking to impress, and semi-final hero Javier Balboa went close before the attacker’s free-kick presented captain Emilio Nsue with a chance which he could not convert.
The hosts were offered further encouragement when Wakaso was muscled off the ball by Iban – only for referee Eric Arnaud Otogo-Castane to halt his charge towards goal by awarding a free-kick to spare the Ghana midfielder.
Ovono thwarted a number of first-half attacks by charging quickly from his line but the goalkeeper’s ambition got the better of him as he clattered into Appiah on the end of Christian Atsu’s measured throughball.
Otogo-Castane had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Jordan Ayew slotted home before Ghana doubled the misery for a boisterous home crowd in first-half stoppage time.
Andre Ayew sent Atsu charging clear on the break down the left channel and he cut the ball back for Wakaso to calmly take a touch and drill a low finish. Unfortunately Ghana’s exit from the field would not be so straightforward as objects rained down from the stands.
Ghana should have given themselves further breathing space 10 minutes into the second half but Andre Ayew was unable to connect from close range when John Boye knocked a free-kick back across goal.
Appiah then sprung the offside trap but Ovono was out quickly to save.
The familiar sight of Ovono on the charge was in evidence again in the 75th minute, although Appiah retrieved the second ball on this occasion and fed Andre Ayew to slot beyond the keeper as he scrambled to make up ground.
The goal signalled the end of a memorable run by Esteban Becker’s team but sparked further anger on the field, which saw the game delayed by 30 minutes.
Ghana’s players remained calm throughout and were able to celebrate after playing out three minutes of injury-time upon the game’s resumption to seal their place in the final.
Ghana clinched a place in the final of the Africa Cup of Nations with a 3-0 win over Equatorial Guinea, but the night will be remembered for shameful scenes of violence between supporters which saw the match suspended for 30 minutes in the second half.
Jordan Ayew gave the Black Stars a 42nd-minute lead from the penalty spot before Mubarak Wakaso doubled their lead at the end of the first half.
But trouble broke out as Avram Grant’s team had to be shielded by police from objects thrown from the crowd as they left the field.
The home players pleaded for calm in the stands before the resumption but they were unable to negotiate a way back into the match as Andre Ayew sealed victory and a final spot against Ivory Coast with his third goal of the tournament.
Chaos then descended as the game entered its closing stages, with the game suspended for half an hour as a hail of objects were thrown by Equatorial Guinea fans into the visiting support.
Ghana supporters gathered on the running track behind one of the goals as they attempted to escape the missiles, while police used a helictoper and tear gas to disperse the offending fans.
The game eventually resumed with the clock set at 90 minutes and the Black Stars duly saw out the contest to reach the final where they will meet the Ivory Coast.
The game had started with Equatorial Guinea looking to impress, and semi-final hero Javier Balboa went close before the attacker’s free-kick presented captain Emilio Nsue with a chance which he could not convert.
The hosts were offered further encouragement when Wakaso was muscled off the ball by Iban – only for referee Eric Arnaud Otogo-Castane to halt his charge towards goal by awarding a free-kick to spare the Ghana midfielder.
Ovono thwarted a number of first-half attacks by charging quickly from his line but the goalkeeper’s ambition got the better of him as he clattered into Appiah on the end of Christian Atsu’s measured throughball.
Otogo-Castane had no hesitation in pointing to the spot and Jordan Ayew slotted home before Ghana doubled the misery for a boisterous home crowd in first-half stoppage time.
Andre Ayew sent Atsu charging clear on the break down the left channel and he cut the ball back for Wakaso to calmly take a touch and drill a low finish. Unfortunately Ghana’s exit from the field would not be so straightforward as objects rained down from the stands.
Ghana should have given themselves further breathing space 10 minutes into the second half but Andre Ayew was unable to connect from close range when John Boye knocked a free-kick back across goal.
Appiah then sprung the offside trap but Ovono was out quickly to save.
The familiar sight of Ovono on the charge was in evidence again in the 75th minute, although Appiah retrieved the second ball on this occasion and fed Andre Ayew to slot beyond the keeper as he scrambled to make up ground.
The goal signalled the end of a memorable run by Esteban Becker’s team but sparked further anger on the field, which saw the game delayed by 30 minutes.
Ghana’s players remained calm throughout and were able to celebrate after playing out three minutes of injury-time upon the game’s resumption to seal their place in the final.
No comments:
Write commentsWhat do you think?