Being the only surviving African nation in this World Cup, Ghana did not disappoint almost a billion Africans watching them go head to head with US at the Royal Bafokeng Stadium. They booked quarter final date against Uruguay by beating USA 2-1 . The best part of it all is how they started, Kevin Prince Boateng brought the joy to many supporters and fans all over the world within first five minutes.
GOAL! USA 0-1 Ghana. Ricardo Clark lost the ballĀ in midfield trying to be clever instead of avoiding Ghanian’s midfielders. Boateng made a powerful runĀ down the left channel, as the US defenders struggled to keep pace with him. From about 25 yards, Boateng unleashed a low drive shot past Howard at the goalkeeper’s near post. Howard’s positioning was a bit suspect, but hey, who cares, the words of Shakira “Waka Waka this is time for Africa” was starting to ring all over the continent again.
The sign of Ghana’s superiority in the first 30 minutes clearly played out when USA had to make a change on the 31st minuteĀ by bringing in Maurice Edu to replace Ricardo Clark, who had received an early booking.Ā That at least brought the contest to some sort of balance with USA starting to create some chances.Ā First half ended with Ghana still leading 1-0.
USA leveled the scores in the 62nd minute through a penalty smartly taken by London Donovan but Ghana did not give up. According to the commentator, USA looked as the team likely to score towards the end of normal time but personally i did not see that, apart from end to end entertaining display by both teams.
The normal time ended with scores still leveled 1-1. And just when the supporters were starting to be restless something wonderfulĀ happened in the 3rd minute of extra time. Yeah Goooooaal! Ghana 2-1 USA. And it was a great goal expertly taken by Asamoah Gyan. Dede Ayew hooked the ball from the centre and Asmoah Gyan raced between the two defenders, did well to stay on his feet as Bocanegra tried to shoulder him to the ground, then glanced up and blasted a left-footed shot past Tim Howard from about 15 yards. You can’t help but shout at the top of your voice.
Boateng’s goal was Ghana’s first goal at this World Cup from open play, having beaten Serbia and drawn with Australia in the group phase courtesy of two penalties. And with Gyan adding another great one, Ghana at long last overcame one aspect in their game which made most people feared that they might crash out of the tournament due to the inability to score goals.
And African teams not scoring goals in this World cup despite having some of the deadly strikers has beenĀ a major concern and debate almost everywhere across the continent. Goals were dry for South Africa when they desperately needed them against Mexico in particular and later Uruguay. When they finally found their scoring touch against France, it was too late and they had to bow out of the tournament, in the process making history as the first host nation to be eliminated at the first round.
Cameroon went down 1-0 to Japan and actually lost all their group matches but as we know it they have some of the best players in the continent . In fact in their ranks they haveĀ one of the best striker the continent has ever produced in the name of Samuel Etoo.
Nigeria just needed to beat South Korea by any margin but they could not find their scoring touch..Yeah they have Yakubu, Obafemi Martins, Peter Odemwinge and even the old and tired Mr. Kanu.
Ovory Coast, well, people have given them a pass owing to the fact that they were in a group of death, but that is a big crap. If African team is going to win the world cup soon, they will never do it without going through past the likes of Brazil, Portugal, Argentina, Germany. Let stop deluding ourselves and just say Ivory Coast was weak, theyĀ overrelied on Drogba and they failed when they needed goals in particular duringĀ theĀ game against Portugal.
That a side..This is time for Africa…….