Soccer News of Wednesday, 20 June 2007

Source: taadjah/www.ghanafa.org

8-Nation Tournament: Ghana is Out!

The U17 national team - Black Starlets - failed to produce a high scoring win that could have secured Ghana a place in the finals of the 8-nation mini pre-FIFA U-17 World Cup tournament.

Ghana were beaten 3-0 by host nation, Korea Republic in the final Group A game on Wednesday thus conceding the first position to Brazil who had earlier beaten Haiti 4-0.

The Black Starlets aside missing out of the finals also miss the chance for a third place finish having been overtaken by the host.

Prior to Wednesday’s game, Ghana who were on top the standings needed a high scoring victory in the last group game but coming up against the host nation and playing before a hostile gathering, good form deserted the impressive Black Starlets.

The two runners-up from the group stage will play off for third place, before the group winners face each other for the title in Cheonan on Saturday, 23 June.

The 8-nation mini pre-competition tournament hosted by Korea Republic seeks to prepare the qualified nations from the globe for the FIFA U-17 World Cup and also mark as a dress rehearsal for the tournament with only two months to go before the start of the competition.

These are Results of the matches played so far.

GROUP A;

Match Day 1:
Ghana 3-0 Haiti
Brasil 2-0 Korea Rep

Match Day 2:
Ghana 1-1 Brasil
Korea Rep 2-0 Haiti

Match Day 3:
Ghana 0-3 Korea
Brasil 4-0 Haiti

Group Table:

 ---    Pts  GD
Korea 6 +3
Brasil 7 +6
Ghana 4 0
Haiti 0 -9

GROUP B

Match Day 1:
Nigeria 2-1 New Zealand
Japan 1-0 USA

Match Day 2
Nigeria 2-1 USA
Japan 3-0 New Zealand

Today, Match Day 3
Nig Vrs Japan
USA Vrs NZ

Group Table:

 ---        Pts  GD
Japan 6 +4
Nigeria 6 +2
USA 0 -2
New Zealand 0 -4
Nigeria must win at all cost to qualify to the finals since a draw will not be good for them