The National Senior Soccer Team, Black Stars on Sunday beat their Benin Counterparts, the Squirrels, by a lone goal in the opening of the round-off 2010 World Cup Qualifying series at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi.

The only goal of the match came in the first minute through Prince Tagoe, who hit the net from Sulley Ali Muntari's in swinger after he had received a long pass from Tornado Skipper Stephen Appiah.

Benin accepted the challenge and worked hard for the equalizer but wasted a corner, which they had in the fourth minute.

They continued to pile up pressure on the Stars with aggressive inter positional play spearheaded by Sessegoun Stephane and Damir Chryaosteome, forcing a second corner in the eighth minute. It was taken by Stephane but was wasted.

Jonathan Quartey was flashed the yellow card in the 15th minute when he brought down Adenon Khaleedo in one of the forays of the Squirrels. Let off the hook, the Stars came into the picture but it was short lived as the Squirrels took over and won a free kick near the vital area of the Stars.

The resultant Stephane's kick sailed a few centimetres over the bar in the 33rd minute.

In the 35th minute, the Stars had a free kick but the terrific shot taken by Muntari missed the post narrowly.

The Squirrels in a counter attack in the 43rd minute nearly levelled up when they moved deep into the vital area of the Stars with Stephane meandering his way through the defence of Ghana but Boco Romuald ended up missing the chance.

In the second session, it was still the visitors, who continued to play a determined game with the Stars finding it difficult to cope with the brilliant football from the Squirrels.

Sensing danger Coach Milovan brought in Kwadwo Asamoah for Matthew Amoah in the 60th minute to strengthen the attack.

This change brought some significant changes to the Ghanaian attack. In the 66th minute the Stars won a corner kick, which was expertly taken by Muntari but John Panstil, who was in a good position to head it home missed the ball in the 66 minute.

Substitute Asamoah also wasted a chance when he failed to slot in a cross after Muntari had dribbled through a forest of legs in the 70th minute.

Benin brought in Kokou Djoman for Adenon in the 73rd minute while Asamoah Gyan also took over from Appiah in the 74th minute. The presence of Asamnoah Gyan changed the pattern of play of the Stars as they piled up pressure on the Squirrels but could not increase the tally.

Benin countered Asamoah's presence with the replacement of Aguide Mustapha with Nouhoum Kobenan in the 78th minute.

The game then heated up with both sides making a series of incursions into each other's territory but it was Benin, who had the finest chance to level up but in the 80th minute but squandered the opportunity.

Muntari hit the cross bar with a terrific shot in the 85th minute.

Goalkeeper Richard Kingson received a yellow card in the 90th minute for delaying.

The Line up of Ghana: Richard Kingson; John Panstil; Samuel Inkoom; Eric Addo; Jonathan Quartey; Michael Essien; Anthony Annan; Stephen Appiah/Asamoah Gyan; Matthew Amoah/Kwadwo Asamoah; Prince Tagoe; Sulley Muntari/Isaac Vorsah.

Summary