Stars draw in Kinshasa

Accra, Mar. 27, GNA - A 30th-minute clever chip by Asamoah Gyan was not enough to brighten up Ghana's chances of a maiden World Cup appearance as they were held 1-1 by the Democratic Republic of Congo in Kinshasa on Sunday.

The Black Stars and Congo are three points adrift of Group Two leaders South Africa who are on 12 points after a hard-fought 2-1 win over Uganda on Saturday while minnows Cape Verde Islands are on 10 points thanks to a 2-1 away victory over Burkina Faso.

The Stars opened up early in the game but were unlucky not to have shot ahead in third and fourth minutes respectively as Gyan's close-range shots were pushed to corner by the Congolese goalie.

The player, however, atoned for his earlier misses with a classic goal in the 30th-minute. He shrugged of a mid-air tussle by a Congolese defender, controlled the ball with his chest and lobbed it over onrushing goalkeeper.

The Ghanaians lowered the tempo of the game after the goal and allowed the Simbas to take control of the midfield to launch series of raids. The Congolese however, had to wait till the 51st-minute for their attacks to yield results.

Skipper Shabanda Nonda capitalised on a sloppy Ghana defence to slot in the goal after his colleague had turned left-back Addoquaye Pappoe inside out from a well-rehearsed corner kick.

The Stars woke up from their slumber with some decent onslaughts as the game swung from one end to the other.

Gyan the victor, turned villain during the closing stages of the game when he messed up a glorious opportunity to give Ghana the winner as his attempt at rounding up the goalie failed. Ghana has two home matches against Burkina Faso and Uganda and an away against South Africa.

Line-up: Sammy Adjei, Hans Adu Sarpei, Emmanuel Addoquaye Pappoe, Dan Coleman, John Mensah, Abubakari Yakubu/Hamza Mohammed, Sule Mutari, Laryea Kingston/Louis Agyemang , Mathew Amoah, Asamoah Djan, Stephen Appiah (skipper)

Source:
GNA

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