Angola 0-1 Ghana
Ghana will play the winner of Zambia v Nigeria in the semi-final
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By Darren Estwick. |  |
Sunday, 24, Jan 2010 05:33
By Tom Powell
Asamoah Gyan's first half goal for Ghana was enough to see off hosts Angola to reach the semi-final of the African Cup of Nations.
The win means Ghana will play the winner of tomorrow's quarter-final between Zambia and NIgeria on Thursday.
A first-half of errors, ambitious long-range shots and fouls was briefly brought to life by Gyan's calm finish after 16 minutes as the Black Stars took a 1-0 lead into half-time.
The second half was just as laboured as Angola wasted the few chances they made and Ghana hung on to take their place in the last four of the competition.
The hosts welcomed back the tournament's joint top scorer Flavio and midfielder Stelvio as they went in search of their first African Cup of Nations quarter-final for the first time in their history.
Ghana, who limped into the quarter-final after their 1-0 win over Burkino Faso, recalled Opoku Agyemang to the starting line-up in place of Matthew Amoah but were still without star-man Michael Essien.
It didn't take long for things to warm up, Ghana's Dede Ayew booked within 30 seconds of kick-off after a late challenge.
The opening ten minutes was a frenetic affair with the hosts looking well and truly up for the challenge but aside from a few ambitious long-range efforts they were yet to test Kingson in the Ghana goal.
The game's first real chance fell to Ghana but Asamoah Gyan's free-kick drifted harmlessly wide with 11 minutes on the clock.
The majority of the large crowd that had flooded in to watch their heroes were stunned into silence on 16 minutes as Ghana took the lead.
A simple threw ball down the right channel from Kwadwo Asamoah found Gyan who took his time to steady himself and slot calmly home, the Angola coaching staff would not have been happy about the amount of time and space the Stade Rennais man was given.
Kingson had looked shaky in the Ghana goal for much of the first half, flapping at a number of crosses but he had to be alert on the half hour to palm away a firm Manucho header after the former-Manchester United man had been teed up by Flavio.
Angola had a foothold in the game now and should have done better with an indirect free-kick just inside the area after Kingson had held onto the ball for too long.
The ball was in the net again nine minutes before the break but Gyan's neat finish was ruled out for offside.
A minute before the break Manucho should have doubled his side's lead.
Flavio did well to bring down a long ball into the Ghana area, beating the two centre-backs and goalkeeper to poke it back to Manucho but the striker could only blast the ball over the bar from 12 yards out.
Ghana were quickest out of the blocks in the second period and Angola's Rui Marques needed to be alert to stop Opoku pulling the trigger having worked himself into a decent position just inside the area.
The second half was proving to be just as slow and laboured as the first half with the Angolan attack struggling to trouble the Ghana defence.
The first real chance of the second period came on 66 minutes as Haminu Dramani got in behind Francisco Zuela but shot straight at Fernandes.
Up the other end Mabina's free-kick summed up the Angolan performance as he curled an effort high and wide as he teammates lined up waiting for the cross.
Moments later Gilberto went close from a 20-yard free-kick after Manucho had been brought down but the wall deflected the shot over.
The hosts were getting closer and went within inches of equalising as Ricardo Job swung over a right-wing cross and Manucho headed just over from seven yards out.
Angola continued to push but almost found themselves two goals behind as Asamoah let fly from 25-yards but Fernandes was equal to it.
The crowd continued to urge their side forward the end product in the final third was severely lacking along with the finishing of the forwards though credit must go to the determined defending of the Ghana side.
Two minutes into injury time Kali almost latched onto a long ball into the area and although Kingson also failed to collect the ball the Ghana defence mopped up.
And they got their reward for their solid defence as they held out the five minutes of injury time to secure their place in the semi-final whilst Angola's wait for a place in the last four of this competition goes on.