Abeiku Quansah fires Ghana into Finals . , 14/10/2009
A thunderbolt
from Abeiku Quansah was the difference as Ghana survived a late comeback from
Hungary to book their place in the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009.
Ghana served
notice of their intent as early as the ninth minute when Mohammed Rabiu sent a
right footed shot over the bar and a minute later they were ahead. Adam
Presinger's sloppy back pass was seized upon by Andre Ayew, who took it past
the keeper, slipped it towards the net and Adiyiah bundled it over the line
before Presinger had chance to clear.
The Africans
were in complete control in the opening 45 minutes, but had a tendency to
surrender possession too easily, which created a few nerves, especially given
the calibre of striker that Hungary have in their ranks. Ayew and Osei had
shots which were fairly comfortable for Peter Gulasci, but the keeper could do
nothing about the Satellites second, which came shortly after the half hour
mark.
Samuel Inkoom's
cross from the right was met with a confident downward header by Gulacsi who
celebrated his eighth of the tournament in style. The only shot on goal worthy
of note from the Europeans during the first half came when Mate Kiss's
free-kick was comfortably claimed by Daniel Agyei.
Just before the
break, Osei saw another shot well saved by Gulacsi and Adiyiah went close again
with a shot on the turn which went narrowly wide.
Hungary made
two changes at the break, which saw Presinger and the injured Nemeth replaced
by Balazs Megyeri and Roland Varga respectively. The changes also saw Andras
Gosztonyi move into a more advanced role and he almost pulled one back for
Hungary in the 48th minute when he dragged a shot just across the face of goal.
Megyeri went
close in the 52nd minute when he connected with Gosztonyi's free-kick at the
far post, but his right footed effort cannoned off the outside of the post and
away to safety. Varga's dangerous cross narrowly evaded three Hungarian players
and with time ticking away in the 71st minute, it was time for the final throw
of the dice, with Marko Futacs coming on for captain Zsolt Korcsmar.
It took two
minutes to pay off. Andras Simon slipped the ball to the big striker inside the
box and he made no mistake. Predictably, it set up a grandstand finish.
Gosztonyi delivered fine balls for Varga and Janos Szabo, but they both wasted
their chances, failing even to trouble the keeper.
With Hungary
committing men forward, Ghana took advantage. Adiyiah slipped the ball to Opuko
Agyemang, who found Abeiku Quansah on the right side of the box and he crashed
a shot off the underside of the crossbar to restore Ghana's two goal advantage
with nine minutes to go.
The Black
Satellites should have been cruising by this point, but a defensive lapse from
David Addy allowed Hungary back into the game. The striker's first touch should
have been dealt with by the left back, but his slip allowed Megyeri to take
advantage; as all he had to do was pass the ball past Agyei and into the net.
Yet, despite
the deficit being reduced once again, it was Ghana who came closest to scoring
in added time when Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu rattled the crossbar with a ferocious
right footed shot. Two minutes later it was all over and the Black Satellites
were celebrating their progression to their third appearance in
the final of the FIFA U-20 World Cup.