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| Stars maul Pharoahs in 2013 Afcon warm-up |
1/13/2013 |
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Ghana’s Black Stars thumped seven time African champions Egypt 3-0 in a warm up game ahead of the 2013 Nations Cup in South Africa.
Agyemang Badu began the mauling with a superb header in the first half with substitutes Richmond Boakye Yiadom and Asamoah Gyan getting the two goals in the second half.
Egypt failed to qualify for the tournament and looked almost rusty and physical in a game that saw a superb team performance from the Black Stars and pieces of individual brilliance from Kwadwo Asamoah and Agyemang Badu.
The Stars were quick and fluid with Bristol City winger Albert Adoma proving a slippery customer to his marker.
But it was Udinese Star, Agyemang Badu who shot the Stars ahead in the 17th minute when he soared above his markers and powerfully connected a well taken free kick from Kwadwo Asamoah.
The Pharaohs were slow and hardly threatened the Ghana goal with Fatau Dauda almost enjoying the game watching. In a rare attack in the 19th minute, Dauda was quick to grab the ball off the foot of the Egypian striker.
The game turned very physical with the Egyptians, guilty for most part.
Skipper Anthony Annan became victim of the attacks and was replaced by Derek Boateng.
In the 35th minute, Omar Garber was yellow carded for diving after he had, in a sublime one-two situation, got himself in a scoring position in Ghana’s 18 yard box.
Coach Akwasi Appiah brought in Richard Boakye-Yiadom for Emmanuel Clottey in the second half and the Italy based striker responded positively.
He had earlier failed to connect a teasing cross from the right by Adomah but when Kwadwo Asamoah set him up with a cheeky side-heel on the left, the Italy based striker coolly placed the ball beyond the reach of the Egyptian goal keeper for Ghana’s second.
Egypt responded well and breached the Ghana defence with a splitting pass but the resulting strike was too feeble to beat Fatau Dauda who made some really impressive saves on the few occasions he was called upon.
In the 75th minute the Pharaohs came close to scoring but Derek Boateng tracked back into defence with a timely tackle in the six yard box.
Striker Asamoah Gyan was brought in with a quarter of an hour left and was beautifully set up by Christian Atsu in the 84th minute. The Al Ain striker halted his goal duck for the Stars with the third and final goal for the Black Stars.
With three minutes left, Fatau Dauda, in a spectacular fashion, parried a goal bound shot for a corner much to the disappointment of the Egyptians.
3-0 it ended for the Stars who will play Tunisia in their second and final warm up game before the Nations Cup begin on the 19 of this month.
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