Ghana/Congo-Brazzaville: Black Stars Beat 10-Man Congo to Move Closer to Afcon Finals

The Citizen (Dar es Salaam)

5 June 2011

Kinshasa — A spirited second half performance powered Ghana’s Black Stars to a 3-1 win over their Congolese counterparts in their 2012 Africa Cup of Nations qualifier on Friday at the Baba Yara Stadium in Kumasi.

Second half goals from Isaac Vorsah, Prince Tagoe and Emmanuel Agyemang Badu kept the four-time continental champions on course for a place at the 28th edition of the showpiece African football tournament.

The Black Stars sweated to cut through the Congolese, who put a performance in the Group I encounter contrasted their 0-3 loss in the reverse at their backyard last March.

The Red Devils matched their hosts squarely with goalkeeper Massa Chancel standing between them and goal backed by a solid backline in the opening session.

Midfielder Badu, by far the best player on the night tested Massa on eight minutes with power-laden effort which the goalie spilled into play, and found Tagoe, but he surprisingly shot wide with the yawning net his mercy.

Later, Chelsea midfielder, Michael Essien playing his first match in more than 12-months saw his goal bound shot struck the crossbar. It was the closest as far as the Ghanaians came to breaking the deadlock as the Red Devils haunted them with their swift brakes on the counter.

Three minutes from recess, the visitors were dealt a major blow after defender Makita Fabry was sent off for a second bookable offence after fouling Kwadwo Asamoah in the penalty area.

His exit marked the beginning of their woes whilst Ghana coach Goran Stevanovic pulled out the quiet Kevin Prince Boateng for Dominic Adiyiah.

AllAfrica – All the Time