Black Meteors grab semis ticket at All Africa Games

The Black Meteors of Ghana secured a ticket to the semi finals of the football category of the 10th All Africa Games with an edgy 4-3 win over Mozambique at the Mashava Stadium, on Saturday.

The Meteors may be up against either Cameroon or Senegal in the semi finals as the two sides, battle for the top spot in their group on Sunday.

Having lost their first game against South Africa, the Meteors needed a win to advance to the next stage of the competition in a match that nearly saw a great comeback from the homers with three goals, in the second half, after the Meteors had taken a 3-0 commanding lead by the close of the half.

The Meteors opened the scores in the 10th minute after dominating the host in all departments in the first half, with Mahatma Otoo, floating the ball over the goalkeeper after pouncing on a cross from Richard Mpong on the edge of the “18”.

Mpong and Nuruudeen could have increased the tally minutes later but wasted perfect scoring chances.

With the determination to advance to the next stage of the competition, the Meteors ensured they were on top of the game in each department as the Mozambicans came close to scoring only in the 15th minute through Fait Reginaldo, but keeper Daniel Adjei was on hand to deal with the situation.

Otoo, who was widely criticized after the loss against South Africa, scored from a similar position through a mid-air shot in the 17th minute after picking a well laid cross from Francis Baffoe, whilst a gifted opportunity minutes later again on the path of Reginaldo was misfired.

The Hearts of Oak top marksman completed the half with a hat-trick – he scored another goal in the 26th minute to send signals of a possible massacre but it turned out to be a different story in the second half.

The Mozambicans took total control of the game, dominated the midfield battle and went on incessant runs on the flanks by Uetimane Manuel Zacarias and Fernandez Manuel Tomas Joachim, who tormented the Meteors defence, on several occasions.

Aided by substitute Sogolane Rachide Achab, the Mozambicans reduced the tally in the 46th minute through a powerful grounder from Manuel Zacarias and nearly reduced it further in the 59th minute but for the intervention of Adjei.

But the Meteors responded to the challenge in the 62nd minute, with Prince Baffoe racing deep into the opponent’s area and delivered a shot which was pushed into a play by the goalkeeper for substitute Gilbert Fiamenyo to slot in the fourth goal for Ghana.

Workaholic Fernandez Manuel Tomas Joachim scored his 68th minute, after struggling out of two defenders before chipping in the ball of which Adjei’s attempt, was not enough to save the situation.

However, the gradual collapse in midfield of the Meteors as link man Abubakari Mumuni seemed to have slowed down, saw the home team going all out with Fernandez Manuel Tomas Joachim breaking into the defence sending a deep cross, which was side stepped into the net by Tomocene Jonas Jaime Lopes in the 80th minute.

Line-Up

Ghana: Daniel Agyei, Augustine Sefah, Adams Ahmed, Abu Mumuni/Uriah Asante, Sarfo Gyamfi Frank, Richard Mpong, Francis Morton, Mahatma Otoo Prince Baffoe, Ali Nuruuden/Gilbert Fiamenyo, Sumaila Rashid/Edward Kpodo.

Source: GNA