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Johannesburg - Ghana overwhelmed Egypt 6-1
Tuesday in the first leg of an Africa zone play-off
to all but secure a third consecutive World Cup
finals appearance. The 'Black Stars' took an early lead, were 3-1 in
front by half-time, and another three goals left
Egypt facing an almost impossible task on
November 19 in Cairo. Asamoah Gyan scored twice and Majeed Waris,
Sulley Muntari and Christian Atsu once for the
home team while Wael Gomaa conceded an own
goal. Mohamed Abou Trika was the lone Egyptian
marksman, converting a spot-kick to pull the
score back to 2-1 before the Ghanaians took total
control. It was a remarkable scoreline that not even the
most partisan supporters of the 'Black Stars' could
have imagined before the kick-off. Ghana started with inexperienced centre-backs
Jerry Akaminko and Rashid Sumaila in place of
injured John Boye and Jonathan Mensah. Midfielders Mohammed Rabiu and Kevin-Prince
Boateng were also sidelined by injuries and a
suspension ruled out play-anywhere Harrison
Afful. The 'Black Stars' line-up comprised footballers
from nine countries, with Italy and South Africa
providing two each, while eight of the Egypt line-
up came from African champions Al-Ahly. Those chosen from the Cairo 'Red Devils' included
a couple of 'golden oldies', centre-back Gomaa,
38, and midfielder Abou Trika, 34, seeking first
World Cup finals appearances. Egypt resembled nerve-riddled amateurs in the
early stages before a near-capacity crowd at the
50,000-capacity Baba Yara Stadium in the second
biggest Ghanaian city of Kumasi. Gyan scuffed a chance after just 11 seconds and
they could have been two goals ahead before he
put Ghana in front on five minutes. The former Sunderland striker picked up a loose
ball, drove into the box and fired a low shot
across goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy into the far
corner. Ekramy was working overtime, blocking a
Kwadwo Asamoah shot and changing direction to
push away a Waris header as Ghana dominated. It was no surprise when the home side doubled
their advantage on 22 minutes after dazzling
dribbling from Chelsea midfielder Essien. He took the ball past several opponents and when
his charge was blocked by Ekramy, the ball struck
shaven-haired Gomaa and rolled into the net. Egypt, the only country to win all six Africa zone
group games, were rattled and American coach
Bob Bradley switched from a back four to three
central defenders. With five 'Pharaohs' in midfield, the visitors
gradually came into the game and unmarked
Mohamed Naguib wasted a chance by heading
over at the far post. It was a warning for the 'Blacks Stars' and Daniel
Opare almost conceded an own goal before Egypt
halved the deficit four minutes from the break. Sumaila fouled Mohamed Salah and Abou Trika
calmly stroked the penalty into the corner as
Fatawu Dauda dived the wrong way. But Ghana took just three minutes to regain a two-
goal advantage with Waris nodding a Muntari
free-kick across Ekramy and into the far corner. Egypt needed to score first in the second half to
get back into the game, but fell even further
behind eight minutes after the restart. An attempted bicycle kick from Muntari hit the
turf and as the ball rose, Gyan nodded past
Ekramy for his fifth goal of the qualifying
campaign. The goalkeeper was forced to retire injured soon
after and when replacement Ahmed El Shenawy
pulled down Waris, Muntari converted the penalty
before Atsu completed the rout.
Tuesday in the first leg of an Africa zone play-off
to all but secure a third consecutive World Cup
finals appearance. The 'Black Stars' took an early lead, were 3-1 in
front by half-time, and another three goals left
Egypt facing an almost impossible task on
November 19 in Cairo. Asamoah Gyan scored twice and Majeed Waris,
Sulley Muntari and Christian Atsu once for the
home team while Wael Gomaa conceded an own
goal. Mohamed Abou Trika was the lone Egyptian
marksman, converting a spot-kick to pull the
score back to 2-1 before the Ghanaians took total
control. It was a remarkable scoreline that not even the
most partisan supporters of the 'Black Stars' could
have imagined before the kick-off. Ghana started with inexperienced centre-backs
Jerry Akaminko and Rashid Sumaila in place of
injured John Boye and Jonathan Mensah. Midfielders Mohammed Rabiu and Kevin-Prince
Boateng were also sidelined by injuries and a
suspension ruled out play-anywhere Harrison
Afful. The 'Black Stars' line-up comprised footballers
from nine countries, with Italy and South Africa
providing two each, while eight of the Egypt line-
up came from African champions Al-Ahly. Those chosen from the Cairo 'Red Devils' included
a couple of 'golden oldies', centre-back Gomaa,
38, and midfielder Abou Trika, 34, seeking first
World Cup finals appearances. Egypt resembled nerve-riddled amateurs in the
early stages before a near-capacity crowd at the
50,000-capacity Baba Yara Stadium in the second
biggest Ghanaian city of Kumasi. Gyan scuffed a chance after just 11 seconds and
they could have been two goals ahead before he
put Ghana in front on five minutes. The former Sunderland striker picked up a loose
ball, drove into the box and fired a low shot
across goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy into the far
corner. Ekramy was working overtime, blocking a
Kwadwo Asamoah shot and changing direction to
push away a Waris header as Ghana dominated. It was no surprise when the home side doubled
their advantage on 22 minutes after dazzling
dribbling from Chelsea midfielder Essien. He took the ball past several opponents and when
his charge was blocked by Ekramy, the ball struck
shaven-haired Gomaa and rolled into the net. Egypt, the only country to win all six Africa zone
group games, were rattled and American coach
Bob Bradley switched from a back four to three
central defenders. With five 'Pharaohs' in midfield, the visitors
gradually came into the game and unmarked
Mohamed Naguib wasted a chance by heading
over at the far post. It was a warning for the 'Blacks Stars' and Daniel
Opare almost conceded an own goal before Egypt
halved the deficit four minutes from the break. Sumaila fouled Mohamed Salah and Abou Trika
calmly stroked the penalty into the corner as
Fatawu Dauda dived the wrong way. But Ghana took just three minutes to regain a two-
goal advantage with Waris nodding a Muntari
free-kick across Ekramy and into the far corner. Egypt needed to score first in the second half to
get back into the game, but fell even further
behind eight minutes after the restart. An attempted bicycle kick from Muntari hit the
turf and as the ball rose, Gyan nodded past
Ekramy for his fifth goal of the qualifying
campaign. The goalkeeper was forced to retire injured soon
after and when replacement Ahmed El Shenawy
pulled down Waris, Muntari converted the penalty
before Atsu completed the rout.
