Soccer News of Wednesday, 23 October 2002

Source: .

Black Stars win 3-1 in Freetown

Ghana Black Stars on Monday evening played a fluent and a cohesive football to beat Eastern Lions, a top Sierra Leonean premier club,3-1 in a friendly international match in Freetown.

The match was their second since they arrived in Freetown six days ago. They lost 1-2 last Saturday to the Leone Stars, the national team of Sierra Leone.

The matches were part of activities marking the first Ghana-Sierra Leone week aimed at promoting cultural and trade relations between the two countries.

Under the instruction a FIFA Referee Edward Billie Parkinson, the Lions kicked off powerfully and for about seven minutes put the Stars under intense pressure.

The lions exhibited good understanding of the game with short and accurate passes which sent supporters of the Stars panicking with fears that the Stars were going to be disgraced.

Stars however regained their composure and attacked in waves with tormentor in chief Charles Taylor, who captained them scoring two quick goals in the 29th and 31st minutes after combining effectively on both occasions with Nana Arhin Duah.

With barely a minute to recess, Kwame Adzagba, headed the ball into his own net from a harmless corner by the Lions to reduce the scores 2-1 for the homsters.

Adzagba however scored for Ghana in the in the 68 minute to stretch Ghana's lead 3-1 but was sent off two minutes later for a second bookable offence.

The Lions tried to exploit the numerical disadvantage of the Ghanaians by putting in their last efforts to reduce the tally but found Stars goalkeeper, Sammy Adjei too difficult to beat.