GROUP B: Ghana stuns Argentina with a 3-2 victory.
By Jorge Belon
Ghana jumped out to a 3-0 lead and withstood the last minute rally from Argentina to hold on for crucial 3-2 victory on Tuesday at Wellington Regional Stadium.
The Black Stars went after the South Americans with their blazing speed the moment the game commenced. For the entire match Ghana moved the ball around so quickly and transitioned from defense to offense so rapidly that Argentina was chasing a shadow for most of the game.
The African nation was able to use their pace to expose Argentina backline by taking 27 shots and getting 11 of them on target.
Right before the half, Ghana took the lead as their midfield burnt La Albiceleste defense. Black Star midfielder Clifford Aboagye got the ball near the middle of the field. Once he controlled the ball he took off eating up five yards within seconds.
Aboagye saw Benjamin Tetteh making a run towards the center of the penalty box, so he took a few more touches with the ball to attract a defender. Tetteh was now free with Aboagye attracting the Argentinean, the midfielder laid off a pass to Tetteh.
The Ghanaian forward controlled the pass and right when he was going to shoot he lost his footing. However, Tetteh still managed to take a powerful shot that flew into the back of the net to make it 1-0 at the 44th minute.
In the second half Ghana continued to run at the South Americans. Forward Samuel Tetteh stole the ball away from an Argentinean right on the top of their penalty box. Then Tetteh stormed past everybody on the left hand side as he ran for 70-yards with the ball to set up Aboagye.
Aboagye flew down the center of the field and received the ball 25-yards away from the goal. A few steps before he entered the penalty box he took the shot while being closely pursued by three defenders.
Aboagye kept his cool and accurately place the ball deep into the left hand side of the net making it 2-0 at the 59th minute.
Ten minutes later Ghana was awarded a penalty when S. Tetteh made a penetrating run into the box. He was going to pass the three South Americans, they were forced to foul him.
Forward Yaw Yeboah stepped up and converted his second penalty of the tournament to make it 3-0.
The Black Stars seemed destined to leave La Albiceleste shutout and embarrassed. Until Ghana’s goalie Lawrence Ati committed a blunder when he dropped the ball in front of the net. Argentinean forward Giovanni Simeone pounced on the opportunity and made the score 3-1 at the 80th minute.
La Albiceleste got their second goal when Emi Buendía collected a bouncing a ball at the center of the PK box. He took a wishful shot into a sea of red Ghanaian jerseys. Somehow the ball ricochet off two defenders before it entered the net at the 90th minute.
Argentina came close to coming back, but Ghana held on for the 3-2 victory.
Ghana will be facing Panama in their final group stage match on Friday at North Harbour Stadium. Ghana only needs a point to get to the next round, but a victory will most likely secure first place.
As for Argentina, if they do not defeat Austria on Friday at the Wellington Regional Stadium, then it will be a long plane ride back to Buenos Aires.
Highlights provided by FIFA.