Accra, Sept 28, GNA - Ghana's Black Satellites gave hope to their chances of a place at next year's African Youth Championship with a 2-1 hard fought victory over the Young Scorpions of Gambia in the final round first leg clash at the Ohene Djan Stadium, Accra on Sunday. Rabiu Mohammed's second half strike and a deflection from the body of Matarr Jobe of the Scorpions was enough to neutralize Paul Jaita's 23rd minute lead and put the Satellites in contention for a berth at the championships, scheduled for Rwanda after their two unsuccessful attempts.

The fate of the Satellites would, however, be decided in a fortnight in Banjul, the Gambian capital after the second leg.

The Young Scorpions, a rising force in youth football, were expected to be a tough nut for the Satellites, who reached this far after brushing past Angola 5-2 on aggregate and the game rightly turned out with the visitors really giving their hosts some cause to worry ahead of the final leg.

The Satellites had to wait for well over a quarter of an hour in search of their rhythm, after which the tactically disciplined Gambians had taken the game to them.

The Satellites, who have been in camp for almost a month, failed to play as a team with the likes of Rabiu and Sadick Adams occasionally exhibiting traits of individual brilliance.

On 23 minutes, the Gambians stunned the home crowd with the opener through Jaita, whose curler Ghanaian goalkeeper Joseph Addo back-heeled into his own net.

The Satellites from then fought on and were rewarded with a penalty four minutes from half time after Rabiu was fouled by Matarr, but captain Ransford Osei's kick from the spot was dealt with expertly by Christopher Allen, much to the chagrin of the enthusiastic crowd, who had earlier been silenced by Jaita's opener.

Back from recess, coach Sellas Tetteh brought on Isaac Donkor for Osei, who was more of a passenger, and the change aided the team's quest for the equalizer.

In the 66th minute, Rabiu struck home the equalizer with a close range shot that went through the legs of a sea of Gambian defenders after Donkor had unselfishly passed the ball to him during one of the team's raids unto their opponent's half.

Charged by the equalizer, the Satellites remained on top and two minutes later, Inkoom's powerful shot was deflected by Matarr into the net to put the Ghanaians in the lead for the first time. The Hosts went in search of more goals, but the closest they came was on the 86th minute mark, when substitute Ekow Benson's shot from a free-kick near the edge of the Gambian penalty area hit the crossbar and went into safety.

Moments after the final whistle by Congolese referee, Moukoko Jean-Michel, the Gambians went wild into jubilation apparently because they anticipated a win with a higher goal margin when the two sides meet in Banjul for the second leg.

Line-up Ghana - Joseph Addo, Ransford Osei/Isaac Donkor, Samuel Inkoom, Paul Addo, Evans Quao, Philip Boampong, Agyemang Badu, Gladson Awako/Ekow Benson, Rabiu Mohamed, Sadick Adams, Mubarak Wakasoo

Gambia - Christopher Allen, Pa Modou Jagne, Pierre Gomez, Abdou Njie, Paul Jaita/Alhagie Bun Gaye, Seni Sidibeh/Mustapha Jaita, Amadou Sanyang, Matarr Jobe, Dimino Manneh/Cherno Njie, Emmanuel Gomez, Ebrima Bojang