In what was a frantic and absolutely frenetic encounter, Ghana beat South Korea 3-2 courtesy a Mohammed Kudus brace and a Mohammed Salisu header, breaking the Korean hearts in what was a high stakes clash for both sides.
The game was hard fought from the beginning, with both teams having created decent openings without any end product. It felt like one of those games which would end in draw, until Kudus smashed in to hand victory to the Ghanaians.
The result meant the West Africans have picked their first win of the tournament.
Here are five things we learned from the game.
Ghana triumph in must-win encounter
This was a tight, tense match that was always going to be higher on tension than quality. The stakes were incredibly high for both sides, with both sides in search of their first victory of the tournament. The game ebbed and flowed, with Ghana’s more patient, considered approach helping them exert control in the early stages leading to their two-goal lead. South Korea came on strong in the early minutes of the second half, though, and pulled parity.
The Black Stars stood their ground during that period and regrouped, got the winner and held on to their slim lead. South Korea created chances of their own and, on another day, could have emerged victorious.
Mohammed Kudus gives Black Stars a new lease of life
The Black Stars have regularly been undermined by a lack of pace and goalscoring prowess in the final third. All too often, Otto’s lad’s little-to-no threat when it really mattered. Not now, for with the presence of Ajax Amsterdam star Mohammed Kudus, Addo’s side finally have at least one player capable of hitting the back of the net with some sort of regularity.
With South Korea on the front foot in the first half, Kudus’ willing running and skills sparked something in both a noisy stadium and his teammates to swing the balance Ghana’s way in the second half. His example in pressing intelligently from the front encouraged others to follow suit. His performance gave supporters a tantalising glimpse of what they’ve been missing for some time now.
He got a brace and was adjudged the Most Valuable Player. If he continues in this vein, he will surely be one of the players who would join a big European club after the tournament.
It didn’t take long for intensity to drop for Addo’s charges
The Black Stars started the game with great gusto, exerting their authority on their opponents, popping the ball around at speed and making the Koreans do plenty running and managed to score two goals during their best moments before the interval with their attacking play fizzling out later in the second half and almost got punished in a dramatic fashion as the Koreans came from a two goal down to pull parity after the interval.
With Uruguay as their next opponents, the Black Stars must play above themselves throughout the game to ensure victory against the South Americans. It looks cagey for Addo but he’ll need to find a way to secure a good result on Friday if he is to have any chance at all of seeing his side in the round of 16 stage. As must-win matches go, its right up there.
Say it quietly; Lawrence Ati Zigi is a good goalkeeper
Firmly established as the Number 1 for the Black Stars in Qatar, Ati Zigi produced another assured display between the sticks on Monday. The goalkeeper has taken time to settle since he made his Ghana debut but with Otto Addo giving him the nod to start ahead of Abdul Manaf Nurudeen and Danlad Ibrahim, that belief paid off. He produced the goods in both halves in a game totally dominated by the Asians.
Point blank saves and ability to organise his defence were a sign of a growing confidence and although he conceded a goal, his ability was never questioned.
Jordan Ayew silences his critics.
Great players choose special moments to announce their presence. The Crystal Palace forward has struggled to find the back of the net earning him of criticism of the many a Ghana fan.
The least opportunity, they get, they calumniate him forgetting how prolific he could be on a good day. Fortunately for Ayew, he was presented with an opportunity to prove his critics wrong and he never disappointed. He assisted two of Ghana’s three goals on the day. He was everything good for Otto Addo’s side.
By: Godfred Budu
