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Monday Football
21 January 2008
by Jerrad Peters

Ghana 2-1 Guinea
Sulley Muntari claimed all three points for Ghana, yesterday, as the host nation of the African Nations Cup earned a last-minute 2-1 win over Guinea. The 23-year-old Portsmouth midfielder won the match with a superb blast in the 89th minute. With both sides making desperate attempts from distance, Muntari unleashed a stunner from 25-yards which found the top corner of the goal behind Komoko Camara.

Although the Guinea goalkeeper was faultless on the play, he produced several gaffes in the opening period which, but for the pitiful finishing of the Black Stars, might have seen his squad trailing by two or three at the interval. Additionally, Ghana forward Junior Agogo and midfielders Michael Essien and Muntari struck the woodwork before the initial 45-minutes had expired.

Quincy Owusu-Abeyie produced the cross which Agogo headed against the bar. The 21-year-old terrorized Guinea’s right flank throughout the proceedings. Currently on loan at Celta Vigo from Spartak Moscow, the left-winger played his Under-21 football for the Dutch national side before declaring for Ghana on 10 January.

Agogo, also a menace throughout, finally created the opener when he was fouled by Oumar Kalabane in the 54th minute. Udinese striker Asamoah Gyan promptly placed the ball on the penalty spot before hammering his effort past Camara.

Kalabane made amends, however, when he headed captain Pascal Feindouno’s corner past Ghana ‘keeper Richard Kingson just 10-minutes later. From that point, the match seemed to settle. Both sides appeared content with attempting long balls and efforts from distance before Muntari broke the deadlock.

The three points leave Ghana in good standing going forward. The will next face Namibia on Thursday while Guinea have the prospect of a must-win contest against Morocco.

Despite his side’s triumph, Black Stars manager Claude Le Roy was disappointed with the finishing ability of his forwards.

"We created so many opportunities to score,” commented the 59-year-old. “Scoring seems to be very complicated for us."

But while Le Roy was frustrated, his counterpart, Robert Nouzerat, was furious.

“This is the worst match Guinea have played under me,” he fumed. “My regret is that we didn’t play the way we should have. The next game will be decisive for us. The consequence of losing the first game is that if we lose the second, we’re out.”