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Soccer News of Sunday, 4 July 2004

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Uganda 1-1 Ghana.

Discuss the Game
In Kampala, Uganda and Ghana shared the points after a 1-1 draw in a Group Two 2006 World Cup. Philip Ssozi gave the hosts the lead from a free kick right on the stroke of half-time. But Asamoah Gyan rescued a point for the Black Stars when he headed home the equaliser five minutes from full time.

In a match that was hardly a classic, Cranes did enough to shut out the threat of Juventus midfielder Stephen Appiah and Michael Essien. While Uganda failed to create meaningful scoring opportunities, Ghana's uneasiness at defending set pieces was evident in the first half hour when skipper Denis Obua?s perfect deliveries caused trouble in the area. Appiah showed flashes of brilliance on the inside left channel and forced an outstanding goal line from Andy Mwesigwa after a great run from the dangerous Poku Kwadwo.

Cranes' breakthrough came at the stroke of halftime with the game descending into a cagey affair. Obua held possession well to win a foul. Philip Ssozi bent a delightful ball into the area, masterfully finished by Obua.

Cranes returned in the second half and held out for large periods but Ghana's incessant pressure for a goal made it a matter of when not if. In the last quarter of the match, Cranes was defending with as many as eight shirts in the box, affording Ghana's central defenders Sammy Kuffour and Kofi Amponsah the luxury of advancing to the center to direct the search for a goal.

They duly got their due reward, albeit in exasperating fashion. The lively Noah Kasule 'Babadi' headed out of danger, Gyan Baffour received the ball, pressed forward and passed desperately into a crammed Uganda box.

Substitute Gyan Asamoah got to it first in the 86th minute, headed strangely and must have been pleasantly surprised that it found the bottom right corner of the net. The body language of Cranes players reflected a scenario of two points dropped and not one earned.

Ghana are two points behind South Africa but will be pleased with the draw in Uganda.

Live Report

  • 1526 GMT RESULT! Uganda 1-1 Ghana.
  • 1517 GMT: GOAL! Uganda 1-1 Ghana: Asamoah Gyan makes the most of the Ghanaian pressure and loops a header of the goalkeeper.
  • 1459 GMT RESULT! South Africa 2-0 Burkina Faso.
  • 1407 GMT: Ghana now step up the pressure against Uganda as they push for an equaliser.
  • 1455 GMT: Neither Uganda nor Ghana are able to dominate the second half.
  • 1419 GMT Half-time Uganda 1-0 Ghana.
  • 1418 GMT GOAL! Uganda 1-0 Ghana: Uganda's Philip Ssozi gives the hosts the lead from a free kick right on the stroke of half -time.
  • 1404 GMT: Ghana are getting back into the game as Kwadjo Poku's free-kick goes over the Ugandan bar.

  • 1353 GMT: Uganda continue to have the better of the game but Ghana's Gyan Baffour has his sides best chance but fails to score.

  • 1340 GMT: Uganda are dominating the early exchanges against Ghana. Despite the rumours Chelsea's Joel Kitamirike has not started for Uganda

  • 1331 GMT: Ghana kick-off the Group Two match against Uganda in Kampala.

  • Line Up: Sammy Adjei; Dan Quaye, Addoquaye Pappoe, Kuffour, Amponsah; Essien, Muntari, Appiah; K. Poku, William Tierro, Baffour Gyan