Stunning Muntari Gives Ghana Last Minute Glory
Ghana 2-1 Guinea
A stunning 90th minute strike from Sulley Muntari handed Ghana a last gasp win over a resolute Guinea outfit in the Cup of African Nations opener.
Ghana dominated almost the entire game, but need some last gasp work to pick up three points.
Asamoah Gyan's 55th minute penalty was cancelled out as Oumar Kalabane's header went in off Richard Kingson.
Guinea looked set to escape with a draw, however, with time running out,
Sulley Muntari unleashed a rasping drive from 35 yards out to hand his team a much deserved win in a shining game of football.
First Half
Ghana were in charge from the word go, playing some good football despite being hampered by what was an undulating pitch.
Passing the ball accurately was difficult, and running with it even more so, but the hosts made light of that to pin Guinea back in their own half.
Manuel Obodo was the first to come close, striking the crossbar following a superb cross from Laryea Kingtson, who was having a great game.
Essien was next, heading onto the bar moments later as Guinea lived dangerously.
The one way traffic continued, and a few minutes later, Asamoah Gyan had the ball in the back of the net, which was disallowed, and rightly so, for a push on Omer Kalabane.
Appiah then hit the post with a rasping drive ad Ghana were denied by the woodwork for the third time.
Having been second best for much of the half and yet survived, Guinea has a couple of late chances. First it was Pascal Feindouno who fluffed his finish with a weak effort, before Ismail Bangoura fired wide just before the break.
Second Half
Ghana's luck changed on the other side of the break, albeit under controversial circumstances. Obodo went down under a challenge from Kalabane, and the referee pointed to the spot though replays suggested that the foul was just outside the box.
Gyan stepped up to slot the ball past Kemoko Camara, and send the home fans wild.
Ghana continued to dominate, but failed to get that second goal, and were made to pay for it as Kalabane headed a corner goalwards, saw it bounce off the underside of the crossbar, onto Richard Kingson's shoulder, and in.
Ghana should have disappeared into the distance by now, but suddenly, were in real danger of dropping points in what was supposed to be a banker.
Essien's fierce drive was deflected out, as Ghana began to pile the pressure again. It was going to tell, one felt, but time was running out.
Then, just as the clock struck 90, Sulley Muntari unleashed a fierce effort from over 30 yards out that gave Camara no chance.
Ghana had nicked it, and perhaps deserved the win based on domination and purpose, but Guinea will be left distraught, as much by having conceded in the last minute as by that penalty.
goal.com
