Black Stars mute noisy Chipolopolo to enhance Brazil 2014 dream

Ghana have made it to the play-offs stage of the 2014 World Cup qualifiers in Africa after Spartak Moscow striker Abdul Majeed Waris and Kwadwo Asamoah gave them a win
Ghana beat Zambia to confirm their place in the next round of the 2014 World Cup qualification for the African region.

A first half goal from Spartak Moscow forward Abdul Majeed Waris gave the Black Stars the lead at half time before a second half Kwadwo Asamoah strike doubled the Ghanaians’ lead.

Despite a second half strike from Nathan Sinkala, the two goals were enough to see the four-time African champions through to the next round where they will meet a team yet to be decided in a two-legged play-off tie to represent the continent in Brazil next year.

The Black Stars had taken the lead through a stooping header, directed into the roof of the net from Waris and despite the Zambians looking more comfortable in possession and seeing more of the ball, they failed to make their possession count due to the tight  knit nature of the Ghanaian defensive unit.

The Zambians creative frustrations seemed wane in the second half as they created a number of chances early on in the half, but failed to convert their chances. A long range strike from Asamoah gave the Ghanaians a two-goal cushion before Sinkala reduced the deficit with an effort from the edge of the box.

Despite mounting pressure on the hosts, the Zambians failed to secure the equaliser before the full time whistle.

The Zambians started the game on the stronger foot as the Black Stars’ eagerness to win the game seemed to give them early jitters leading to a free kick in a dangerous area for the Zambians early on, but Rainford Kalaba was unable to beat the wall with his kick. Then the returnee Andre Ayew and Emmanuel Mayuka both had headed efforts at goal within a matter of minutes but neither managed to trouble the opposition goalkeeper though the Ghanaian’s effort had been on target.

The Black Stars nerve seemed to settle leading to first clear chance of the game in the 12th minute which fell to skipper Asamoah Gyan but the Al Ain forward’s header from an Opare cross failed to hit the target. The forward was presented with a singular opportunity a few minutes later when a neat ball from Asamoah played him in one-on-one with Stopila Sunzu in the box, but the Ghana captain was unable to beat his man.

Baba Yara Stadium erupted into a cacophony of noise in the 18th minute when a bit of persistent work from John Boye saw the defender chase down what looked to be a lost cause before fizzing the ball across the face of goal and onto the head of Waris who opened the scoring with a stooping header, directed into the roof of the net amidst confusion among the Zambian defence who seemed to have thought Boye had committed a foul in the build-up.

Fatau Dauda almost gifted the visitors an opportunity in the 25th minute as he came out for a corner and completely missed the ball, but the Zambians were unable to capitalise on his mistake. His opposite number, Kennedy Mweene, pulled off a stunning save to prevent Mubarak Wakaso’s pile driver from doubling the Ghanaians lead.

The Zambians started the second half as they ended the first breaking through the Ghanaian defence on no less than three occasions in the first five minutes of the half, but were thwarted on all three instances due to the indecision of their forwards when they got into dangerous positions. The Zambians dominance forced the hand of Kwesi Appiah who brought on Michael Essien and youngster Christian Atsu in place of Rabiu Mohammed and Mubarak Wakaso respectively in order to solidify the midfield.

Essien’s presence seemed to liberate Juventus midfielder Asamoah who strolled forward to put the Ghanaians firmly in the driving seat with a scorching effort from range past Mwene to double Ghana’s lead.

After a few more minutes of rearguard action from the Black Stars the Chipolopolo made their dominance count with a well worked corner driven in low past Dauda by Sinkala from the edge of the box, which immediately dampened the spirits inside the stadium after conceding though the Black Stars looked to control possession in an attempt to halt the Zambian momentum, a strategy which helped them see out the result and claim the crucial victory.