Full Time: Ghana 0-1 Zambia
Ghana is currently playing Zambia in the first semi final tie of the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations in Bata.
– Zambia have only gone and done it! Well done Chipolopolo! They endured so much pressure in the game and took their goal brilliantly! Did Ghana deserve to lose? Probably not, but they could not convert their numerous chances! Zambia through to the final!
90 + 5’ – The referee blows the whistle for Full Time.
90 + 3’ – This is frantic! Ghana are attacking like men possessed, Zambia are defending like Trogans!
90 + 1’ – We will have four minutes of injury-time!
90’ – Close! Vorsah seems set to score but his goal-bound effort is blocked by Zambian defenders! They were queuing up there!
89’ – Ghana need to launch the ball forward into the Zambian half … Himoonde does well to recover after initially losing the ball to Muntari. Great recovery.
88’ – Nkausu concedes a soft corner, will he be made to pay … no, Zambia clear. They have been excellent in defence today.
87’ – Ghana Substitution: Sulley Muntari replaces Andre Dede Ayew
86’ – Another corner for Ghana … they are pressing … oh dear, that is a really poor delivery from Asamoah.
84’ – Well, Ghana now down to 10 men. Everything is stacked in Zambia’s favour!
84’ – Derek Boateng (Ghana) is sent off.
82’ – Great break by Zambia ends in Kalaba’s shot, but it is straight at Kwarasey. They look confident now!
80’ – Ghana look to hit back straight away as Andre Ayew crosses, but Mweene just gets a hand there ahead of Jordan Ayew. What a great finish we have!
78’ – Great goal and Zambia lead! Sub mayuka collects the ball on the edge of the area and side-foots home from the edge of the area. Great goal! Big upset?
78’ – Emmanuel Mayuka (Zambia) scores!
75’ – Gyan is off and it has not been his day. Tagoe is an excellent replacement though.
74’ – Ghana Substitution: Prince Tagoe replaces Asamoah Gyan.
73’ – In the four matches that Mensah has played in this tournament he has scored two goals, been sent-off and limped off injured twice. Eventful!
72’ – Ghana Substitution: Isaac Vorsah replaces John Mensah
70’ – Looks like Mensah will have to go off, he was a doubt coming into this game and looks as though he has succumbed to his injury niggle …
70’ – Isaac Chansa (Zambia) is cautioned.
69’ – As I type that Mweene comes to collect again and misses, Gyan has a header that he cannot direct on target. Big chance!
68’ – Ghana with a corner … Mweene punches clear again. he has been magnificent today.
67’ – This time it is Zambia with the free-kick and Sunzu cannot direct his effort on target. Goal-kick.
66’ – Zambia Substitution: Chisamba Lungu replaces Francis Kasonde
66′ Mweene saves easily from a Gyan shot, it was a tight angle, but the keeper was comfortable in the end.
65’ – Free-kick for Ghana from the same position as the last, but this delivery is poor and Zambia are easily able to clear.
63′ Derek Boateng (Ghana) is cautioned.
62’ Boye Ball well floated in, Asamoah Gyan wins the aerial challenge over Mweene but his header is off target.
60’ Boye fouled just inside the Ghana half. Free kick quickly taken, ball now with Inkoom on the left he passes to Ayew but he is fouled. Free kick to Ghana in a promising area.
59’ Boateng initiates yet another Ghana attack. Ball now with Kwadwo Asamoah who tries a curler but it was always going wide.
58’ Boateng comes away with the ball but his intended pass is deflected away but Andre Ayew recovers but runned out of room in the box. Zambia can now clear their lines.
56’ Both coaches; Herve Renard and Goran Stevanovic out of their dugout screaming instructions to their players.
55′ Katongo gets a rare break on the right, it is looking really good for the Chipolopolo but his cross is cut out by the impressive Boye.
54’ Ball still in the Zambian half, they just can’t get it out of their area but they do now with Stoppila. Ball hist Boateng on the arm but referee says play on but the Black Stars lose possession.
53’ Mweene resumes play after a brief halt. Katongo chips one forward and referee gives a foul against Derek Boateng who was backing into his opponent.
51’ Kwadwo Asamoah takes, looking very dangerous as heads go up but referee blows the whistle for an infringement.
50’ Appeal for handball in the Ghana half but referee waves play on as Jordan goes on another charge but he is brought down illegally. Referee Benouza rightly gives a foul.
49’ Jordan Ayew shoots from outside the box and Mweene gathers but on the second attempt. The greasy surface here in Bata is something strikers could take full advantage of.
48’ The Black Stars are really not hurting their opponents despite the large chunk of possession enjoyed.
- Zambia Substitution: Emmanuel Mayuka on for James Kamanga
45′ Ghana gets us underway in this second half and are already looking to continue from where they left off in the first.
45+1’ The referee brings the first to an end.
45’ We will have one minute of added time.
44’ Inkoom’s cross is better but Gyan cannot get his header on target. Ghana are getting so much joy on the right, something for Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard to think about at halftime.
43’ This time Inkoom shoots rather than crosses but it is never troubling Mweene.
42’ Inkoom in space again on the right but his cross was poor. He has not been great with his delivery in this match so far. Too long or too short.
36’ – Second corner reaches Boye but he cannot get his shot away when well-placed. He should have done better, but Zambia scramble clear.
35’ – Corner to Ghana … Jordan Ayew collects at the near post but his shot on the turn is blocked for another corner.
33’ – Great chance Zambia! Katongo latches onto a fantastic pass but shoots wide from 12-yards. Should have hit the target at least. Really good game this!
31’ – Ghana have a free-kick 40-yards out … Andre Ayew delivers and brother Jordan Ayew misses the ball completely eight yards out without a defender in sight! What a miss! A complete air-shot!
29’ – Gyan shoots, but it is blocked and was going wide anyway. At the other end, Chamanga is just flagged offside in the promising position. This is end-to-end stuff now!
26’ – Katongo’s shot from range is blocked. Zambia have not spent much time in the Ghanaian box since the early part of the game and have been reduced to long-range shots. Ghana will be happy with that.
24’ – Andre Ayew breaks on the right and gets into the penalty-area, his cut-back for Gyan is perfect but the striker scuffs his shot from 15-yards and it is easy for Mweene. Ghana are using width very well.
22’ – Finally they do mount an attacking, but Sinkala’s shot from range is easy for Kwarasey.
21’ – Zambia are battling to get out of their half at the moment, Ghana are attacking in waves.
19’ – Mweene dallies on the ball and just manages to clear with Gyan closing down on him. The Free State Stars keeper is known for high-profile mistakes, Chipolopolo fans will be hoping he is on his game today. so far, so good!
18’ – Another free-kick for Ghana after a foul by Sinkala … Asamoah breaks into the penalty-area, but the ball runs out of play. Zambia are holding on a little here.
16’ – Boye is booked and will miss the final if the Black Stars make it through. That will be a blow for the side because he has been excellent this tournament.
16’ – John Boye (Ghana) is cautioned.
16’ – Boye is booked and will miss the final if the Black Stars make it through. That will be a blow for the side because he has been excellent this tournament.
15’ – Beautiful play from Ghana sees Inkoom set free on the right but his cross is poor. Nkausu again commits a foul on the left-hand edge of the penalty-area ..
15’ – The free-kick is cleared by Zambia under heavy pressure.
12’ – Well, what a breathless start. This game has the ingredients for a classic! Gyan’s penalty really was disappointing. Far too casual.
10’ – Gyan has another chance, this time from open play but Mweene again does brilliantly to save at his feet. Ghana are turning it on now!
8’ – MISSED! Terrible penalty from Gyan, Mweene saves low to his left! Gyan has missed important penalties before, will this be another haunting moment for him?
7’ – Penalty for Ghana! Nkausu fouls Asamoah!
6’ – Another corner for Zambia, they are doing all the early running here. Ghana clear again.
4’ – A clever corner almost tees-up Sunzu, but he fouls the Ghana defender. It is bucketing down out there!
3’ – Chansa has the first shot of the game, but it is over the bar. Must have got a deflection because we have a corner …
1’ – We are under way in Bata! As has become the norm, the crowd is dismal …
Referee: Mohamed Benouza (Morocco)
Zambia: 16-Kennedy Mweene; 4-Joseph Musonda, 13-Stoppila Sunzu, 5-Hichani Himoonde, 6-Davies Nkausu; 19-Nathan Sinkala, 2-Francis Kasonde, 8-Isaac Chansa, 11-Chris Katongo, 17-Rainford Kalaba; 12-James Chamanga.
Ghana: 16-Adam Kwarasey; 7-Samuel Inkoom, 21-John Boye, 5-John Mensah, 17-Lee Addy; 6-Anthony Annan, 9-Derek Boateng, 10-Dede Ayew, 20-Kwadwo Asamoah; 13-Jordan Ayew, 3-Asamoah Gyan
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