Soccer News of Tuesday, 20 September 2005
Source: fifa
There was no separating Ghana and Costa Rica as their Group A clash on match day two of the FIFA U-17 World Championship Peru 2005 ended 1:1. Both teams have two points from two matches and identical goal ratios after a West African set-piece cancelled out Costa Rica's opener to ignite what was a somewhat cautious affair in the first half.
Both teams made a solitary change from their opening matches: Ghana surprised everybody by leaving Sadat Bukari on the bench in favour of striker Awudu Abubakar, who appeared as a second-half substitute in the previous game. Costa Rica handed a start to Cesar Elizondo, relegating Luis Cordero to the bench.
The 12,000 fans in attendance witnessed a nervous start to the encounter, both teams evidently realising the importance of the tie.
Ghana took the initiative in the opening stages, but it was Costa Rica who created the first opportunity, Celso Borges testing Ghanaian goalkeeper Nana Bonsu with a 20-yard effort (11'). The Central Americans were dealt an early blow when Cesar Elizondo was forced to retire from the proceedings through injury after just 22 minutes. Undeterred, the Costa Ricans continued to take the game to their opponents. Jean Solorzano tried his luck on the turn only to see his shot go wide of the post (27'). Foiled by the well organised Costa Rican back line, the Africans struggle to impose themselves on the game and create any offensive openings as the game reached a half-time stalemate.
If the first half was quite uneventful, the second period was anything but. An Esteban Rodriguez corner was met by the head of Borges from six yards to give Costa Rica the lead (1:0, 47'). The West Africans reacted instantly, captain Emmanuel Ansong shooting wide on 51 minutes. However, it was not long before Ghana were rewarded for the endeavours, Jonathan Quartey finding the direct route past the Costa Rican defence with a 20-yard free-kick (1:1, 58').