Ghana used two late goals to advance to the finals of the World Youth Championship with a 2-0 win over Egypt Wednesday in Cordoba.
The All-African semifinal was scoreless game until the 83rd minute when defender Abass Inusah headed home a goal past Egyptian goalkeeper Mohamed Sobhi.
Three minutes from time, the match was sealed when defender Mohamed El Atrawy scored a bizarre own goal. El Atrawy headed a Ghanian goalkick backwards over the head of Sobhi and into the net from 30 yards out.
This game was a rematch of the 2001 African Youth Championship also won in a tight affair on penalties by Ghana.
Ghana seems to have a flair for the dramatic after needing a golden goal to beat Brazil in the quarterfinals on Sunday.
Both teams were playing shorthanded as Ghana’s John Pantsil and Egypt’s Hossam Ghali were both suspended for yellow card accumulation.
Early on, they were fighting off an onslaught of chances from Egypt. Ghana’s goalkeeper Maxwell Banahene was put to the test in the sixth minute when he needed to punch clear a shot from Ahmed Abou Moslem.
In the 21st minute, Egyptian forward Gamal Hamza cracked a volley just wide of Hassacas’ goalkeeper’s post.
The Pharoahs almost struck in the 26th minute when Belgian-based Mohamed El Yamany sent an overhead kick over the net.
Ghana had the better of possession in the second part of the first half, but their best chance came when Samuel Thompson shot from 20 yards out, but El Atrawy deflected it over the end line.
In the second half, Bastia defender Michael Essien broke down the wing, but he was denied by Sobhi at the side of the net.
Five minutes after that, El Yamany had an open shot on the wing, but his shot hit the side of the net.
With a quarter of an hour to go, El Atrawy hacked down Abdul Razak Ibrahim outside the box and was assessed a caution. On the ensuing free kick, Ibrahim zipped a high shot past the goalpost.
After the Inusah goal, Egypt frantically tried for an equalizer but the own goal was their doom in Cordoba.
Ghana will face host Argentina who punished Paraguay 5-0 on Wednesday. It will be the second finals appearance for the Black Stars after their second place finish in 1993. Ghana also finished fourth in 1997.
Egypt will still finish higher than they ever have despite the loss when they face Paraguay for third place on Sunday.
Cautions: (Egy) El Magd, Atrawy
Ghana: Maxwell Banahene, Sulley Muntari, Abass Inusah, Michael Essien, Patrick Villars, Emmanuel Pappoe, Samuel Thompson (James Owusu-Ansah, 75), Abdul Razak Ibrahim, Razak Pimpong (Frank Osei, 85), Derek Boateng, John Mensah
Egypt: Mohamed Sobhi, El Magd Abou, Hussein Amin, Mahmoud, Mohamed El Atrawy, Mohamed Shawky, Wael Reyad, Reda Shehata (Mohamed Gerisha, 84), Mohamed El Yamany, Ahmed Abou Moslem, Gamal Hamza (Mohamed Abdelwahed, 71)