ATHENS'04: Meteors stage dramatic comeback

VOLOS/THESSALONIKI, Aug 15 - Ghana struck twice in four minutes late on to defeat Paraguay 2-1 in a Group B encounter that burst into life 15 minutes from time. Goals from William Tiero and Stephen Appiah in Thessaloniki cancelled out a Carlos Gamarra header as Ghana leapfrogged over Paraguay to join Italy on four points. The South Americans now need to defeat the Azzurri to qualify for the quarters while Ghana need only a point to make certain of reaching the last eight.

With five forwards officially listed in the starting 11, Ghana started off like a train. Appiah, whose confidence had been boosted by a wonder goal in the 2-2 draw against Italy, began the match brightly. Playing in a position just between the forward and midfield lines, the Juventus player was at the heart of the Africans' good early work.

Ghana seemed intent on emulating their opening assault that had stunned Italy three days before and there was only six minutes on the clock when Appiah cut inside his man and shot just wide. With three points under their belt, Paraguay were not about to give up their own game plan of counter-attacking and go toe-to-toe, but the shooting boots of Aureliano Torres, who had eight shots in the opening match, were at work again whistling wide efforts in quick succession.

Aggressive, fast and not afraid to shoot, Ghana pushed forward and William Tiero, one of only four in the starting line-up plying their trade back home, first blasted wide, then, from 25 yards, inches over.

Slowly but surely, the more experienced South Americans began to draw the sting out of the Africans early thrust. Their defensive wall, marshalled superbly by skipper Carlos Gamarra, stood rock solid, shattering the meteors early momentum and, as a clutch of Ghanaian supporters quietened, the Guaranis began to dictate the pace of the game.

With Mariano Barreto's Ghana side lacking ideas now, Paraguay's Edgar Barreto, no relation, almost broke the deadlock a minute before the break but his long-range effort fizzed past the upright.

The second half started much as the first.

Captain Yussif Chibsah shaved the post with a bullet of a shot and only a miraculous flying turn over from another Barreto, Diego, kept out a soaring John Mensah a header. Reappearing slightly to the left of centre, Appiah bent a free kick over and then scorched another right-footer onto the eighth lane of the running track. But the Africans were not getting any closer and Paraguay hit them with their first decent chance of the half.

Substitute Fredy Bareiro had just mistimed a golden headed opportunity, but from the resultant corner, Gamarra thundered a header home past George Owu down on his knees (1-0, 76).

Owu might have been down but his outfield players were not and the introduction of Kwadwo Poku changed the game. With Paraguay surprisingly pushing players upfield for a second, the Denmark-based forward set off on a long run covering three-quarters of the field before slipping the perfect ball to Tiero who side-footed home left footed (1-1, 81). Three minutes later and the impish striker beat his man on the left corner of the area and crossed for Appiah to poke into the far corner and set off jubilation among the colourful African support (1-2, 84).

"We thought we had them," admitted a disappointed Paraguay coach Carlos Jara afterwards. "We were in control and they were causing us no problems but in a few minutes, with two chances, the game was lost. Now we have to regroup and focus on the last game, Italy."

"We had no luck against Italy but today we did - and we had fight," smiled Barreto. "Sometimes substitutions work, sometimes they don't. After we conceded, the pressure of winning was lifted from my boys shoulders and they played how I know they can."

Italy now lead Group B with four points and a better goal record than Ghana who have the same amount. Paraguay are third with three points and Japan are stuck in last position with no points and thus eliminated from the Olympic tournament.

On Wednesday, Paraguay face Italy while Ghana try to hold on to their top-two position against Japan, to qualify for the quarter finals.

PIC Paraguay's Pablo Gimenez (L) fights for the ball against John Mensah (R)

Summary

Goalscorers: William Tierro and Stephen Appiah
Halftime: 0-0
Cautions: FIGUEREDO Diego (PAR) 28', MENSAH John (GHA) 46'+
Lineup Ghana: OWU George; GYAN Baffour, OSEI Emmanuel, MENSAH John, PAPPOE Emmanuel; APPIAH Stephen, GYAN Asamoah, PIMPONG Razak, COLEMAN Daniel, TIERO William, CHIBSAH Yussif

Fixtures, results and tables from the men's football tournament at the 2004 Olympics.

Group A:

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Mali	2	1	1	0	2	0	4
South Korea	2	1	1	0	3	2	4
Mexico	2	0	1	1	0	1	1
Greece	2	0	1	1	2	4	1

11/08/04: Greece 2-2 South Korea
11/08/04: Mali 0-0 Mexico

14/08/04: South Korea 1-0 Mexico
14/08/04: Greece 0-2 Mali

17/08/04: South Korea v Mali (1730 GMT)
17/08/04: Greece v Mexico (1730 GMT)

Group B:

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Italy	2	1	1	0	5	4	4
Ghana	2	1	1	0	4	3	4
Paraguay	2	1	0	1	5	5	3
Japan	2	0	0	2	5	7	0

12/08/04: Paraguay 4-3 Japan
12/08/04: Ghana 2-2 Italy

15/08/04: Paraguay 1-2 Ghana
15/08/04: Japan 2-3 Italy

18/08/04: Paraguay v Italy (1730 GMT)
18/08/04: Japan v Ghana (1730 GMT)

Group C:

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Argentina	2	2	0	0	8	0	6
Australia	2	1	1	0	6	2	4
Tunisia	2	0	1	1	1	3	1
Serbia & Montenegro	2	0	0	2	1	11	0

11/08/04: Tunisia 1-1 Australia
11/08/04: Argentina 6-0 Serbia and Montenegro

14/08/04: Serbia and Montenegro 1-5 Australia
14/08/04: Argentina 2-0 Tunisia

17/08/04: Argentina v Australia(1730 GMT)
17/08/04: Serbia and Montenegro v Tunisia (1730 GMT)

Group D:

	P	W	D	L	GF	GA	Pts
Iraq	2	2	0	0	6	2	6
Portugal	2	1	0	1	4	5	3
Morocco	2	0	1	1	1	2	1
Costa Rica	2	0	1	1	0	2	1

12/08/04: Costa Rica 0-0 Morocco (1730 GMT)
12/08/04: Iraq 4-2 Portugal (1730 GMT)

15/08/04: Costa Rica 0-2 Iraq
15/08/04: Morocco 1-2 Portugal

18/08/04: Costa Rica v Portugal (1730 GMT)
18/08/04: Morocco v Iraq (1730 GMT)

Quarter-finals:

1. 21/08/04: Winner A v Runner-up B (1500 GMT)
2. 21/08/04: Winner D v Runner-up C (1500 GMT)
3. 21/08/04: Winner C v Runner-up D(1800 GMT)
4. 21/08/04: Winner B v Runner-up A(1800 GMT)