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The Black Stars put on a great performance to hand the 2022 World Cup hosts a major defeat in Turkey
Two assists from Arsenal’s new midfielder Thomas Partey inspired Ghana to beat Qatar 5-1 in an international friendly on Monday.
After Ali Almoez canceled Tariqe Fosu’s opener for Ghana, the 27-year-old set up goals from Swansea City striker Andre Ayew and Saudi Arabia winger Samuel Owusu in the Black Stars’ victory at the Titanic Stadium in La Turkish city of Antalya. Substitute Caleb Ekuban was also on the score sheet for the four-time African champions.
It was a good response from Ghana, who succumbed to a disappointing 3-0 loss to Mali on Friday.
The games are part of Black Stars’ preparations for the resumption of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations (Afcon) qualifiers in November, where Ghana will face Sudan in a double match.
Ghana CK Akonnor made five changes to their starting lineup for Monday’s tie.
Independent goalkeeper Razak Abalora, Slovak right-back Benson Anang, Celta de Vigo center-back Joseph Aidoo, Real Mallorca midfielder Mohammed Iddrisu Baba and Saudi Samuel Owusu received starting places.
St. Gallen goalkeeper Lawrence Ati-Zigi, Amiens center-back Nicholas Opoku, Hoffenheim defender Kasim Adams Nuhu, Besiktas striker Bernard Mensah and Israel’s Eugene Ansah moved to the bench.
Qatar nearly broke the stalemate just four minutes into the game when Almoez hit a playful cross from the right and fired at the post.
Inspired by the close effort, Afif Akram fired a shot on goal after a quick counterattack, but his shot went straight into Abalora’s arms.
Ghana’s first chance came in the 14th minute when Andre Ayew, after being picked up by Partey with a deep pass, passed three men inside the area, but his last shot went straight to goalkeeper Saad Al Sheeb.
Akram then shot over the crossbar from long range, moments before Brentford winger Fosu broke the deadlock for Ghana with a tap-in from close range after Jordan Ayew’s first shot was denied by the goalkeeper. .
Jordan went in search of Ghana’s second goal with a failed curling iron from outside the box in the 27th minute, then Owusu made his way into the Qatar box, but saw his last shot stopped by goalkeeper Sheeb.
With one minute before the break, Qatar leveled the score when center-back Khoukhi Boualem threw a long ball over Ghana’s defensive line. The ball beat Ghanaian center back Aidoo and fell perfectly into the hands of Almoez, who threw his first touch on goalkeeper Abalora before launching a shot at empty goal to make it 1-1.
After the break, Ghana returned with renewed energy when Partey saw a shot, after a run from deep, saved by goalkeeper Sheeb.
A minute later, Jordan put up a good ball for his brother Andre in the Qatar area, but the Swansea City forward saw his first shot blocked by the goalkeeper and his rebound rattled the post.
In the 50th minute, Owusu tried to restore Ghana’s lead after a neat exchange with Jordan Ayew, but Sheeb was on the alert to save the winger’s effort from inside the area.
In the 63rd minute, Andre Ayew finally went 2-1 to the Black Stars after beating an offside trap to receive a clean pass from Partey into the box. The 30-year-old made a great effort beyond the goalkeeper.
Two minutes later, Ghana went 3-1 through Owusu, who produced a quiet finish after being picked by Partey with a high effort.
Jordan then set up Andre Ayew for his second goal of the day to bring the score to 4-1 before substitute Ekuban closed things off with a final goal on an assist from Owusu.
