In a match that somehow ended up with players just.....relaxing on the pitch like it was a beach movie, after some good old violence....Ghana ended up GETTING THAT CHEDDAR, with a resound three-nothing victory over the hosts. They didn't play well, but got it done...but do they and Grant have what it takes to deliver the gold Ghana crave so badly?
My Ghanian brothers were learning to play without their main talisman, Gyan, and the Guinea boys were defending very well and giving Ghana very little space to create anything.
The more I watched the first half, the more I assumed that this could go all the way to penalties. There were a few little chances from Ghana with the Guinea keeper having to come out and punch, BUT, nothing to really excite my senses.
Then it was the new kid who came in, and finally managed to turn things in Ghana's favour once again. And it was a well-timed run, and a good hustle that forced the Guinea keeper to come out and make a challenge that ended up in a penalty.
The thing about Kwesi is he is not a star player. He ain't a superstar with skills that stand out. But just like Thomas Muller, HE IS EFFECTIVE. And in the business of football matches and not trick shows, I only have time for players who are effective...not tricksters who don't give me any goodies.
And with the third goal, that pretty much killed off the game, it was his composure to not rush a shot when the keeper was out of his goal. But he waited, settled his mind, and played the ball across for Andre Ayew to finish. Just like Atsu did for Mubarak for the second. It's that kind of team ethos, that can give Ghana the edge on Sunday, that is the final that everyone wanted to see.
They COULD have given Ghana a game, if they only took three deep breaths, calmed themselves and tried to slowly get the equalizer. But nope, they rushed into things, got more emotional than an ex-wife in divorce court, and it ended up being the most disjointed display that they gave in the whole tournament.
If ever there was a time for them to be at their best, it was against one of Africa's best. And who knows, if they had kept their heads, you could put money on their star-man Rocky Balboa doing SOMETHING to get them back in the game. But alas, we will never know...
And sadly, I must end on the violence we saw.
Did not actually see any brains or intestines get ruptured...but the Ghanian supporters were forced to flee the comfort of their seats because the home fans saw the inevitable, and began to vent their frustration.
Football is an emotional sport, and it can bring out the passion in some. But sometimes, it's best to accept what is and realise that you are taking away the little shred of chance your team has of getting back in the game.
I don't think they would have....but who would have thought City could score two goals in two minutes, or the same for United in a Champions League final? This is football, and ANYTHING can happen. Eight minutes with added-on time is more than enough to muster up three goals in the most dramatic turn of events.
Why the official and the referee did not make a decision in Ghana's favour is something they flopped on. These are decisions that need to be made, and it's unfortunate that there was not a strong enough voice from a referee who actually had a very good game considering the spotlight he was under after the Tunisa debacle.
But Ghana move on and the question remains whether this young team and beat the experience, might and talent of the Ivorians on Sunday....
Gyan WILL be needed, as I am not sure they are strong enough in attack without him....
HH
