Ghana managed to qualify for the quarter-finals of the Under-20 World Cup with a hard fought 3-2 win over Portugal in their round of 16 game.

Goals from Kennedy Ashia, Michael Anaba and Richmond Boakye-Yiadom were enough to give the Ghanaians the win despite goals from Thiago Ferreira and Edgar Ie for Portugal.

The game started with two guilt-edged chances in less than two minutes for Portugal which were both wasted by Aladje to the frustration of the Portuguese.

The Ghanaians looked shell-shocked after conceding those two chances and for the first five minutes looked like they will concede every time Bruma took possession of the ball.

The Portuguese were made to rue their missed chances earlier as Ghana who had worked themselves into the game after the shaky start, took the lead through a long range effort from Ashia. The game seemed to level out after that as both sides seemed to have finally settled into their rhythm.

There were further efforts from Agostinho Ca for Portugal and Ashia again but both sides failed to make the breakthrough till the half time whistle, though a brilliant double save from Eric Ofori Antwi was required to keep the Ghanaians in the lead.

The second half started like the first ended with both teams looking settled but the Portuguese’ urgency showed as they continued to ask questions about the Ghanaian defence, though Ofori Antwi was constantly up to the task till the 70th minute when Ferreira lashed a loose ball into the roof of Ofori Antwi’s net to draw the Portuguese level.

Ghana almost went behind a few minutes later when Bruma’s effort struck the upright, but the Portuguese were not to be denied as Edgar Ie scored from the resulting corner to give Portugal the lead.

The response from the Ghanaians was almost instant though as Michael Anaba who had come on for Moses Odjer earlier on stubbed home after Jose Sa had saved the initial effort from another substitute Boakye Yiadom. Yiadom restored Ghana’s lead in the 84th minute with a free kick struck from the side of the box which managed to sneak past Jose Sa.

The Ghanaians held on to see out the result and will be meeting Chile in the quarter-finals.