Ghana 4-0 Korea Republic: Player Ratings

All in all, it proved a good work out for Ghana’s Black Stars, ahead of their opening 2014 World Cup fixture against the United States on Monday June 16.

A hat trick from a totally unexpected source in Jordan Ayew will only have given head coach Kwesi Appiah a pleasant selection headache ahead of the USA opener.

Here are our player ratings for the match:

1. Fatau Dauda: He looked decidedly shaky with crosses and misjudged a couple of high balls. He was extremely fortunate that the referee erroneously chalked off a legitimate goal scored by the Koreans. He wasn’t bad but should Adam Kwarasey become fit again, Dauda would return to the bench. (5.5/10)

2. Harrison Afful: For me, the Esperance man did not have as good a game as he would have liked by his own high standards. This was due in part to the fact that he had no covering from the players ahead of him. He however improved in the second half, but today was not a very good day for the full back. (5.5/10)

3. John Boye: The Rennes defender had an above average game and seems to have cleaned up his act a bit. He formed a good understanding with Jonathan Mensah and also helped out Kwadwo Asamoah in covering and tracking back. (7/10)

4. Jonathan Mensah He looked comfortable alongside Boye and found time to play the ball out of defence. Was solid but would need to get a bit more physical and 100% concentrated. (7/10)

5. Kwadwo Asamoah: He put in a disciplined shift at left back and never really put a foot wrong. He defended well and found time to move forward and his passing was largely accurate. Andre Ayew did a good job of covering for him as well. (7/10)

6. Rabiu Mohammed: Until his substitution, he was one of the best players on the pitch. His hard work saw the Ghana defence well protected and he also found time to deliver a few long passes. He underlined his importance to the team. (7.5/10)

7. Sulley Muntari: He looked comfortable in his natural deep lying playmaking position and his passes gave Ghana some thrust up front. He nevertheless looked a bit slow and was eventually replaced. (6.5/10)

8. Kevin-Prince Boateng: He flitted in and out of the game and even though he made himself useful in attack, he never really imposed himself on the game. Perhaps there is more to come from him, but he was rarely out of second gear. (6/10)

9. Andre Ayew: For me, Ghana’s standout player. He was tackling, passing, harrying the opposition and he had a hand in Jordan’s first goal which was deflected in. Until his substitution, he looked back to his best and is a nailed on certainty to start against the USA. (8.5/10)

10. Abdul Majeed Waris: He barely had time to make an impression before injury forced him off (4/10)

11. Asamoah Gyan: The Ghana captain performed his role to perfection; tracking back to help in the team build up and providing himself as a threat to the opposition. His goal was well taken and he has now equalled Ghana’s all-time scoring record, held jointly by Kwasi Owusu and Edward Acquah. (7.5/10)

12. Jordan Ayew: He has suffered criticism for recent performances and perhaps rightly so, but netting a hat trick as a substitute is the perfect response. He looked to have bags of confidence and took his second and third goals very well. He has given Kwesi Appiah a lot of food for thought ahead of the USA game. (8/10)

13. Afriyie Acquah: He was enthusiastic and perhaps too much so at times, with repeated fouls that eventually earned him a yellow card. For me, he remains a valuable squad member but not up to the starting eleven yet. (5/10)

14. Emmanuel Agyemang Badu: He was industrious without really standing out, but he did his best to provide a late attacking threat through the middle. (6/10)

15. Christian Atsu: The twinkle toes of the team showed flashes of brilliance and he had a hand in Jordan Ayew’s third goal but perhaps he held himself back a bit. (6/10)

16. Albert Adomah: He remains the only old fashioned right winger in the team and he hustled and bustled. Eventually, after taking a pass from Atsu, he delivered a pinpoint cross that was finished off by Jordan Ayew. Another valuable squad member. (6/10)

17. Mubarak Wakaso: He still looks a pale shadow of himself and generally just about did ok. (5/10)