Ghana hold China to 1-1 draw

Boakye-Yiadom scores on Ghana debut

Striker Richmond Boakye-Yiadom scored in his first game for the Black Stars as Ghana played out to a 1-1 draw against China in Xi'an on Wednesday.
A dubious penalty awarded to China on 54 minutes gave the Asians the lead and the decision South Korean referee Choi Myungyong referee led sarcastic protests by the Ghanaian players.

Substitute Lee Addy neatly cleared a box in the box but the approaching striker threatrically fell to the ground even though the defender did not touch Chinese attacker.

Yet the Korean official pointed to the spot to the suprise of even the Chinese supporters as the Black Stars players sarcastically applauded his decision.
Gao Lin picked his spot to send Adam Kwarasey the wrong way to give the home side the lead even though the Black Stars completely dominated the second half.

Derek Boateng failed to properly connect Kwadwo Asamoah's well-placed pass and the Juventus man's other tailor-measured pass to his team-mate Richmond Boakye was fluffed when the latter had just goalkeeper Sun Xiang to beat.

Boateng combined with Asamoah once again to set Abdul Majeed Waris up but the Hacken striker fired just wide from the edge of the box.

Asamoah had trust in Boakye again as he crossed from the left for the young striker to head in the equaliser with Xiang completely beaten.

It was an evenly matched affair before the break as both sides had decent chances to open the scoring but the goalkeepers in the game stood tall.

The best chance of the half fell to Ghana and debutant Frank Acheampong was unlucky to see his 30-yard piledriver beating goalkeeper Sun Xiang only for the ball to hit the upright.

Anthony Annan's long-range strike held by the goalkeeper, Frank Achemapong missed narrowly and Kwadwo Asamoah went just wide.

Kwarasey punched over just before the break after a counter-attack by the Chinese.

China had a chance to regain the lead when awarded a second penalty five minutes from time, but substitute goalkeeper Ernest Sowah blocked the kick in his first appearance for the Black Stars.

Striker Asamoah Gyan, who ended a self-imposed international exile triggered by public and media criticism when he had a penalty saved against Zambia in the 2012 Cup of Nations semi-finals, was an unused substitute.

Starting line-up: Adam Kwarasey/Ernest Sowah, Harrison Afful, Abdul Razak Nuhu/Lee Addy, John Mensah, Isaac Vorsah, Anthony Annan, Christian Atsu, Derek Boateng/Edwin Gyimah, Emmanuel Clottey/Richmond Boakye-Yiadom, Kwadwo Asamoah, Frank Acheampong/Abdul Majeed Waris.
Unused Substitutes: Asamoah Gyan