Meridian Cup: Ghana Earns Africa's Only Point

Official Page of Meridian Cup Results of Matches.

 GHANA     3-3  CZECH REP. 
 NIGERIA   0-6  PORTUGAL 
 MALI      0-5  SPAIN  
 CAMEROON  0-1  ITALY 
 

Ghana earned Africa’s only point on the opening day of the 2001 UEFA-CAF Meridian Cup by coming back from a 2-1 half-time deficit to draw 3-3 with the Czech Republic, despite going 3-1 down in the 50th minute. Two of the Czech goals came from the penalty spot.
Colourful contribution
The match, played in Bisceglie, was marked by a colourful contribution from local schools, whose pupils went to the ground wearing red, yellow or green capes and took up positions in the stand so that their colours formed the Ghanaian flag. However, in the first half, the Czech Republic were the more colourful side in terms of play and fully deserved the 3-1 advantage they built during the opening 50 minutes, even though the Africans drew first blood in the 18th minute, when George Yamoah scored against the run of play with a left-footed shot on the turn.



The Czechs hit back through a penalty converted by Tom?š Jun in the 32nd minute and then went ahead five minutes later thanks to Tom?š Rada, who finished off a skilful move by Jun following a short corner. Jun was again the protagonist when the Czechs increased their lead in the 50th minute through another spot kick.
The two-goal deficit seemed to spark Ghana into life. They went forward and, although the risks they ran gave the Czechs chances to score a fourth. In the 69th minute Christian Ampeh reduced arrears with the best goal of the game – a spectacular overhead scissors kick. Ghana continued to press for an equaliser and achieved their objective in the first minute of added-time when Michael Ocansey headed home the goal that gave Africa their first point of the competition.