Spain squeeze past Ghana into Youth Cup semis

KADUNA, Nigeria, April 18 - Spain, the only European team left in the tournament, edged past Ghana 8-7 on penalties on Sunday to reach the semifinals of the World Youth Cup.

The Spaniards were the more cohesive side and their relentless attacking left the African champions gasping.

They took the lead with Saludes Barkero's penalty in the 56th minute after Ghanaian defender George Blay up-ended a Spaniard in the box.

The Spaniards seemed to be coasting to victory before Peter Ofori-Quaye's last-gasp goal delayed their celebrations.

Ghana's Tutu Adu was sent off for rough play.

During the penalty shootout, Blay missed the crucial Ghanaian kick to send Spain into a semifinal clash with Mali on Wednesday in Kaduna.

Floodlight failure held up the game for 10 minutes in the first half after a similar incident halted play for 12 minutes earlier in the tournament during the Mexico-Ireland Group C match in Ibadan.

Scorers:

Spain - Saludes Barkero 56pen

Ghana - Peter Ofori-Quaye 90

Red card: Tutu Adu (Ghana)

Halftime: 0-0; 90 mins 1-1; Attendance: 10,000

Teams:

Spain: 1-Fernandez Iker; 2-Lojo Coira (14-Lombardero Alex

105) 3-David Bermudo, 4-Garces Jusue, 5-Lesaca Orbaiz,

6-Lopez Marchena; 7-Gracia Gabri, 8-Hernandez Xavi,

9-Gonzalez Pablo (11-Navarro Yeste 86); 12-Ramos Varela,

16-Saludes Barkero (17-Suarez Ruben 64)

Ghana: 1-Sam Adjei; 5-Rahman Issah (Karim Abdul 73), 6-Abdul

Razak, 7-Mohammed Abdulai (3-Baffour Gyan 66), 8-Mohammed

Hamza; 9-Theoplius Amuzu, 10-Stephen Appiah, 11-Aziz Ansah;

15-George Blay, 17-Peter Ofori-Quaye, 18-Owusu Afriyie

(14-Tutu Adu 55)