Ghana’s senior national team, the Black Stars yesterday lost 0-I to the Bafana Bafana of South Africa in an international friendly played at the Soccer City Stadium in Johannesburg.
The hosts grabbed the match winner in the 41st minute through top striker Katlego Mphela.
It was the first match for new Bafana Bafana coach Pitso Mosimane, and he did not disappoint.
For Ghana’s World Cup coach Milovan Rajevac, it was an opportunity to try youngsters like Cofie Bekoe and Ransford Osei.
The home team started strongly, but striker Mphela was twice denied by Richard Kingston in the first 15 minutes.
The Black Stars began to assert themselves after the initial scare, with Agyemang Badu and Anthony Annan being assertive in midfield.
The central defensive pair of Jonathan Mensah and Lee Addy was busy on the day due to the incessant pressure from the South African attack force being led by Mphela and Bernard Parker. And Mphela was rewarded for his efforts in the 41st minute when he latched onto Captain Steven Pienaar’s pass, and shot the ball past Richard Kingston for the only goal of the match.
Daniel Agyei replaced injured Kingston at the beginning of the second half.
The homesters had a big break in the 53rd minute but Parker was late in releasing the final pass to Mphela. A minute later Lee Addy, who was later substituted for Bright Addai, deflected Parker’s shot.
Three substitutions injected some urgency in Ghana’s attack force, as Yaw Antwi, Bernard Kumordji and Cofie Bekoe fought hard to justify their inclusion into the team.
Ghana’s only bright spot came in the 64th minute when Yaw Antwi, who came on for Dede Ayew, latched onto a ball and delivered an incisive cross; but Captain Asamoah Gyan’s powerful drive was neatly dealt with by the keeper.
It remained a ding dong affair until the end of the 90 minutes.
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