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Soccer News of Sunday, 26 August 2007

Source: FIFA

U17 WC: Do or Die For Ghana


On Sunday 26 August, football fans in Ulsan should have quite a match in store. Group F rivals Colombia and Ghana have played some of the finest football on show at the FIFA U-17 World Cup Korea 2007 , and now it has come down to a virtual play-off between the two for a place in the last 16.

The game
Colombia - Ghana, Ulsan, Sunday 26 August, 19:00 (local time)

The stakes
Colombia lead Group F with four points, having thrashed Trinidad and Tobago 5-0 in their second game of the tournament, and a draw with Ghana will qualify them for the next round. The Ghanaians are on three points, and after losing 3-2 to Germany know that only a win will be enough to make absolutely sure of a place in the last 16. A draw or a defeat would see them relying on results from other groups.

The playersThe Cafeteros will be without star defender Andres Felipe Mosquera, who scored two goals against Trinidad and Tobago but has also picked up a brace of yellow cards. The Black Starlets, on the other hand, have a full squad at their disposal.

The past
Colombia and Ghana have only ever met on one occasion, the South Americans coming away 3-1 winners at the 1972 Olympic Games. Other statistics plead in favour of the Africans, however, namely that they have never lost their third and final group match at a FIFA U-17 World Cup, with four wins and three draws in their seven previous participations.

The words
"We're within sight of the last 16 and we can book our ticket in this last match. Ghana are a very good team, and I'll be watching videos of their matches again and preparing my team accordingly."
Eduardo Lara,Colombiacoach

"This is going to be a tough match for us, whatever happens. The Colombians are good in the air, they're quick and physically very strong. We will have to work hard and be at our best on Sunday if we're to qualify for the next round."
Sellas Tetteh Teivi,Ghanacoach