Ghana earn deserved draw against England at Wembley

Accra, March 29 -- Ghana Black Stars on Tuesday earned a deserved draw when Asamoah Gyan's 90+1-minute goal cancelled Andy Carroll's first in the first half in a historic clash with the Three Lions of England at Wembley.

England kicked-off strongly and appeared set to drown Ghana in goals as the Ghanaians looked lethargic and lost many of the 50-50 balls, apparently as a result of their long flight from Congo Brazzaville less than 48 hours earlier.

In the third minute England earned a free-kick from the left but Young wasted it. It was the turn of Ghana in the seventh minute when Gyan's shot at goal was saved by Hart the goalkeeper of England. England came close to scoring when a combination among Baines, Milner and Young ended with Young blasting the ball over the bar. Just after that Adiyiah meandered his way through the Defence of England but once again Hart blocked his shot at goal.

By the 13th minute the Stars settled and strung a number of passes together but the Three Lions took the ball from them. Young slipped past Vorsah and sent a curling shot toward the top corner of Ghana's goal post but Kingson palmed it away.

In the 16th Ghana earned a free-kick about 30 yards from the goal line of England but Muntari's shot flew over the bar. Ghana mounted pressure on England and during a goal mouth melee Cahill had to stretch to head the ball away.

In the 22nd minute Gyan took a shot from 40 yards but Hart palmed it down. England came close to scoring in the 25th minute when Young hit the crossbar having received a low cross from Milner. Ghana earned a free-kick in the 27th minute. Muntari's kick was connected by Adiyiah but Hart in a reflex action palmed it away. On the 30th minute mark, England earned a free-kick 25 yards out but Downing kick landed on top of the net.

Ghana virtually captured the midfield and strung together about 20 passes and Wembley erupted with excitement.

Disaster struck for Ghana when in the 43rd minute Downing set up Carroll to simply thump left-footed into the bottom corner of Ghana's net to put England 1-0 up at half time.

Ghana got the second half started but England soon took over. Johnson was replaced by Lescott and this appeared to have improved the game of England. Jagielka mistakenly gave the ball to Gyan but he wasted the opportunity.

By the 50th minute Ghana had again taken control of the mid-field and imposed their type of play on England. Badu burst through the middle but was stopped by Cahill just as he was about to deliver a shot at goal in the 56th minute.

Paintsil's shot in the 59th minute was deflected over the bar. Ayew came in for Muntari and Carroll was replaced by Defoe on the hour mark.

In the 62nd minute Kingson was called upon to save Milner's shot at goal. Gyan broke through the England Defence in 69th minute but his shot hit the side netting.

Javis came in for Wilshare in the 70th minute and Milner was booked for a savage tackle on Gyan. The resultant free-kick was wasted.

Ghana mounted a siege on England in the dying embers of the game and in the 90+1 minute Gyan scored for Ghana after twisting and turning through a bunch of England players and expertly placed the ball into the corner of the net beyond the reach of the outstretched hands of Hart.

Starting Line-Up

Ghana: Richard Kingson; John Pantsil; Lee Addy; Isaac Vorsah; John Mensah; Anthony Annan; Agyemang Badu; Dominic Adiyiah; Sulley Muntari; Asamoah Gyan and Kwadwo Asamoah.

England: Joe Hart; Glen Johnson; Leighton Baines; Gary Cahill; Phil Jagielka; James Milner; Gareth Barry; Jack Wilshere; Andy Carroll; Ashley Young and Stewart Downing.