Ghana U17 Lose 3-2 To First Team Of Italian Serie A Side Sampdoria In Friendly

Posted On Thursday, 4th April 2013

Ghana U17 coach Paa Kwesi Fabin

Ghana U17 coach Paa Kwesi Fabin

Ghana’s U-17 team suffered an impressive 3-2 defeat at the hands of the first team of Italian Serie A side Sampdoria on Thursday in a friendly.

The first team of the Italian Serie A side needed a very late goal to be able to defeat the highly talented Ghanaian youngsters who demolished a Swiss second division side 10-0 few days ago.

The Black Starlets performance against the better experienced and high profile opponents is a massive confidence boosts for the Ghanaian kids as they prepare for the African Junior Championship.

The technique, dribbling skills and pace of the Ghanaian youngsters mesmerized the top Serie A players who struggled to cope with the pace and trickery of the Ghanaian youngsters.

Several players who are regulars for Sampdoria in the Serie A including Rodriguez, Munari, Maresca, Soriano, Poulsen and Maxi Lopez as well as second choice goalkeeper Angelo Da Costa all played in the match but were thoroughly dominated by the Black Starlets.

But it was Sampdoria, counting on their vast experience, who opened the scoring against the run of play in the 22nd minute through Eder.

But the Ghanaian youngster did not give up as they equalized four minutes later through Oti Essigba which sparked which raised the tempo of the game.

Maxi Lopez, the experienced Argentine striker, put Sampdoria in the lead again in the 37th minute after converting a penalty for the Serie A when Eder was fouled in the box.

The Ghanaian kids were still unperturbed and tried to equalize again by boosting their midfield efforts where they had a strong grip and swift overlaps using their pacy left and right defenders.

Sampdoria went into the game with the initial intention of keeping it’s first team players fit for the weekend’s game only to be surprised by the mesmerising skills of the young Ghanaians.

Sensing danger and possible embarrassment, coach Delio Rossi brought in more of the players who played in Wednesday’s 2-0 Serie A defeat at the hands of Inter Milan to try to quell the threat of the Black Starlets.

During the second-half more key players like Brazilian Renan, Swiss star Berardi, Soriano and Poulsen were brought on to boost the squad but swirl of change did not lower the pace and skills of the Ghanaian kids  showing that they were good sparring partners for Sampdoria.

It came as no surprise when the Black Starlets levelled the score through Yakubu Mohammed  with some few minutes before the end of the game.

But right as the death, Soriano prevented the Ghana U17 from chalking a famous draw when he scored for Sampdoria but the game and performance revealed that the new Ghana U17 team, MRI-approved, could be world beaters and potential world-class players who could boost the Black Stars in future.

Coach Paa Kwesi Fabin’s boys beat Swiss second-tier side FC Gossau 10-0.

The team have been preparing in Novara since last Thursday.

 Sampdoria (first-half): Da Costa, Rossini, Castellini, Costa, Rodriguez, Munari, Maresca, Soriano, Poulsen , Eder, Maxi Lopez. 

Sampdoria (second-half): Da Costa, Rossini, Castellini, Costa, Rodriguez (10 ‘st Poulsen), Munari, Maresca, Renan, Berardi, Eder, Maxi Lopez. 

Ghana Under 17: Asmah, Tetteh, Opoku, Waja, Twun, Yakubu Mohammed, Asare; Atanga, Ossigba, Agyepong. Entered during the second half: Ati Zigi, Yeboah, Fobi, Boateng, Gomina, Dankyi, Mccarthy. 

Coach: Samuel Kwesi Fabian.