Fantastic meteors fail to score

Abuja, Oct. 6, GNA - The national under-23 soccer team, the Black Meteors sparkled in midfield and defence but failed to extend the shine into goals, the vital ingredient that separates winners from losers, when they allowed their opponents from Algeria to share honours with them after a barren match played at the U.J. Esuene Stadium in Calabar on Sunday.

The Meteors won the hearts of the Nigeria soccer public with their sleek ball possessions and distribution, as they shuffled positions from defence to attack but lacked the veracity of purpose in front. By the end of the match, computerised statistics showed that the Meteors had 50.2 percent of possession. Despite the superiority of the Ghanaians it was the Algerians who came closest to goal when Islam Boumacha thundered a shot against the cross bar in the dying seconds of the match with the Ghanaian defence missing in action for the very first time.

Asamoah Gyan, the main armour of the Meteors was heavily policed and he was the only player of the match who got a card when referee Walter Mochubela showed him a yellow for simulation. The tall striker was the target of hard tackles and had to be changed in the 69th minute with Charles Taylor. Coach Ralf Zumdick introduced teenage sensation Yakubu Shaibu for Don Bortey with eight minutes remaining but the Meteors attack misfired countlessly.

Kwadwo Poku sprang past the Algerian defenders on many occasions but the strong attacker showed neither precision nor power to beat Abdouni Merouane in goal for the North Africans. In defence Daniel Coleman, Adamu Mohammed of Heart of Lions, Issah Gabriel and Saliu Muntari were fantastic to thwart the threat of the Algerians any time they came close. George Owu also made a super save midway through the second half to confirm his choice.

In the first Group A match Cameroon came from behind to beat Egypt 2-1.

Line up (GHANA): George Owu, Muntari Saliu, Issah Gabriel, Mohammed Adamu, Kwadwo Poku, Yahuza Abubakar, Benard don Bortey/Shaibu Yakubu, Asamoah Gyan/Charles Taylor, Daniel Coleman, Chibsah Yussuf(C),and Edmund Owusu Ansah.

(FROM: Richard Avornyotse, GNA Special Correspondent, Abuja, Nigeria)