Draw gives Ghana reason to look ahead

Sports

By HENRY MORABANG
GHANA remain positive they can still make the next stage of the Under-20 Women’s World Cup despite their 2-2 draw with France at the PNG Football Stadium yesterday afternoon.
Coach Mas-Ud Dramani said at the post-match conference that the game would be decided by the side who competed for every minute — and that was exactly what happened when France, trailing 2-1, managed to equalise through a Clara Mateo header in injury time in front of a crowd of just under 1000.
He said it was part of the learning process for his young team and they had learned positive things from the  tournament.
Dramani said his side had gained much from watching France and US clash earlier in the week and they had been able to use that knowledge to get ahead against the French but had allowed them to hit the equaliser late in the match.
Ghana’s player-of-the-match Sanda Owushu Anasha was equally disappointed with the result despite winning the award.
France got of the flying start in the 20th minute when Delphine Cascarino tapped in an easy goal from a Valerie Gauvin cross to secure a 1-0 lead.
Ghana, full of athleticism, never gave up chasing the ball and eventually scored through 16-year-old Anasha to level the scores.
At the restart, Ghana kept the pressure on France, with Jane Ayieyam slamming home a goal to reclaim the lead 2-1.
Ghana had the chance to seal the match 3-1 when Princella Adubea was brought down in the box but Faustina Ampah’s penalty was saved by goalkeeper Mylebe Chavas.
An incredulous French coach Gillies Eyquem said he could not believe his side escaped with a draw, keeping their quarter-finals hopes alive.
“It was a miracle that we forced a draw,” Eyquem said.
France earlier drew 0-0 with US and have now followed it up another stalemate.
“I am disappointed with the players for not keeping the game plan but we’ve drawn the match and that keeps us in contention,” he said