Sports News of Sunday, 24 March 2013

Source: supersport.com

Ghana outclass Sudan

Ghana showed no mercy in its 2014 World Cup qualifier against Sudan, thrashing them 4-0 at Baba Yara Stadium on Sunday.

Asamoah Gyan took his international tally to 32 goals, Majeed Waris scored his debut goal while Mubarak Wakaso continued his impressive goal-scoring with a cracker.

It was a performance that Waris will cherish for years after coming to the party in an impressive start against the Nile crocodile.

He could have grabbed his first international goal in the 6th minute but his shot was too feeble to trouble goalkeeper Elmoiz Mangoub.

But he made amends by heading home the third goal with ten minutes left and provided an assist for Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu to complete the heavy win.

Gyan tucked in the first goal from five yards from John Boye’s header on the 19th minute mark.

The Al Ain attacker scored perhaps his easiest international goal after he tapped in from close range with goalkeeper Mangoub already beaten.

Sudan looked solid at the back with Mohammed Tahir Ramada and Amir Kamal providing cover for the often jittery defence.

Harrison Afful's dashing cross found Wakaso who wasted no time in blasting home from the 18-yard box with a low grounder beating Mangoub for the second time.

Afful produced great footwork on the overlap and sent in an incisive cross which was met beautifully by the Espanyol midfielder with a low volley.

Sudan midfielder Alaedin Yusuf was shown the yellow card in the 42nd minute after a late, late challenge on the goal scorer.

Striker Mohammed Musa also came close to reducing the deficit but he sensationally blew away the chance with only goalkeeper Fatau Dauda to beat in the 48th minute.

The Ghanaians looked panicky with signs of uncoordinated passes creeping into their game as coach Kwesi Appiah kept shaking his head in frustration.

Gyan failed to recover from what seemed like an innocuous challenge in 53rd minute and was replaced by Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu with petite Solomon Asante taken the place of not-too impressive Sulley Muntari.

Waris capped an incredible start for Ghana with fine header in the 80th minute and then provided an assist for Agyemang-Badu to complete the massacre.

The Black Stars have now enhanced their chances of qualifying to the final qualifying round after Zambia dropped points at Lesotho in a 0-0 draw on Sunday.

The group winners will advance to a decisive two-legged playoff that will determine Africa's five representatives at next year's World Cup in Brazil.