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On Monday, the Black Stars put on a brilliant display at the Titanic Stadium in Antalya, Turkey, to beat Asian champion Qatar 5-1 in an international friendly. Ghana entered the match with a fierce approach after a disappointing 3-0 loss to neighboring Mali in a similar international friendly on Friday.
Coach CK Akonnor made five changes to the team that lost to Mali by adding Razak Abalora, Benson Annang, Baba Iddrisu, Samuel Owusu and Joseph Aidoo to Lawrence Ati Zigi, Nicholas Opoku, Kassim Adams, Bernard Mensah and Eugene Ansah.
Ghana looked compact and resolute in the first minutes of the match, but it was the Qatari who was about to score the first goal of the match in the 4th minute through Boualem Khoukhi.
Brentford FC winger Tarique Fosu opened the scoring for Ghana on 22North Dakota minute after tapping on a good cross from Jordan Ayew. Jordan Ayew beautifully controlled a pass from Thomas Partey, facing two players before launching a good pass into the six-yard box for Tarique to hit him at the net for the first goal of the game, his first international goal for Ghana.
The Black Stars continued to push for the second goal with a good display in midfield where Thomas Teye-Partey and Baba Iddrisu operated. The team effort, however, took a shake in 44th Minute in which Almoez Ali took advantage of a defensive error in the Ghana half to equalize Qatar. Joseph Aidoo and goalkeeper Razak Abalora were unable to communicate in the final third, allowing Qatar to level things out before the break.
After the break, Ghana continued to pressure their opponents on their court with some incisive plays from the wing from right to left and occasionally down the middle. Benson Annang, Samuel Owusu, Andre Ayew and Jordan Ayew were the toast of the night with some sublime displays.
Possession paid off when captain Andre Ayew tapped from close range in 63rd minute after catching a pass. Ghana increased the count two minutes later when winger Samuel Owusu scored a solo goal in 65th minute after controlling a beautiful pass from Thomas Teye-Partey.
Jordan Ayew came close again after a good pass exchange with Gideon Mensah before opening wide. The Black Stars continued to press with Samuel Owusu forcing a save from Qatari goalkeeper Mohammed Ahmed Al Bakri.
Captain Ayew added his second of the night after an exchange of passes with his brother Jordan in 85th minute to put the game to bed.
Substitute Caleb Ekuban, who replaced Jordan Ayew, completed the win in the 87th minute with a fine finish to secure Ghana a big win ahead of next month’s AFCON 2022 qualifiers against Sudan.
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