Ghana 3 Saudi Arabia 1

No Essien, No Appiah, No Problem.....

JEDDAH, Nov 14 -- Ghana began warming up for their first World Cup finals with a 3-1 victory over Saudi Arabia in a friendly this afternoon at the Saudi Sports Stadium in Jeddah.

The match was Ghana's first outing since securing their World Cup finals place last month with a 4-0 win over Cape Verde.

Ghana were missing the services of two leading players, midfielder Michael Essien and captain Stephen Appiah, through illness but the teamwork fostered by their Serbian coach Ratomir Dujkovic eventually shone through.

The hosts went in front against the run of play in the 36th minute through 2000 AFC Player of the Year Nawaf Al Temyat, with a sweetly struck long range effort.

Ghana remained unruffled and the host's joy was short lived as two goals in the space of five minutes from two of Ghana?s Italy-based players saw the Saudis go into the interval 2-1 down.

Five minutes after Al Temyat had opened the scoring, Udinese midfielder Sulley Muntari levelled for the ?Black Stars? before Modena striker Asamoah Gyan struck Ghana?s second on the stroke of half-time

The Stars used their quickness to outpace the Saudis and gain total control of the midfield and with less than 15 minutes left to play, Saudi Arabia?s hopes of turning the match around was dealt a final blow when Gyan netted Ghana?s third, following a defensive lapse by the Saudi sweeper.

Ghana continued their unbeaten run which stretches back 14 matches.

Ghana last lost in June 2004 when they went down 1-0 to Burkina Faso in a 2006 World Cup qualifier played in Ouagadougou.

Ghana 3 Saudi Arabia 1
36' [1 - 0] N.A. Temyat
41' [1 - 1] S. Muntari
45' [1 - 2] G. Asamoah
72' [1 - 3] G. Asamoah

... More details to follow soon

Starting Line-Up: George Owu, Dan Quaye, Daniel Edusei, Samuel Osei Kuffuor, John Mensah (captain), Abubakar Yakubu, Laryea Kingston, Anthony Obodai, Asamoah Gyan, Matthew Amoah, Sule Ali Muntari.