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Ghana’s Black Stars delivered a magnificent performance yesterday to crush Qatar 5-1 in their second international friendly match at the Titanic Stadium in the Turkish city of Antalya.
The result must have been a great relief for Ghana coach CK Akonnor, whose charges fell 1-3 to the Mali Eagles in their first friendly last Friday at the same venue.
Yesterday’s performance was one tear away from the lethargy the Stars displayed against Mali, sparking a flurry of attacks from the crowd.
Two assists each from Crystal Palace Jordan Ayew and new Arsenal midfielder Thomas Partey contributed to the damage of the 2022 World Cup hosts.
It was Tariqe Fosu who opened the floodgates for Ghana after crashing on the rebound of Jordan’s effort from the right. But Ali Almoez leveled up just before the break.
Captain Andre Ayew regained the lead with Saudi Arabia-based winger Samuel Owusu also making it 3-1.
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 threw a shot on goal after a quick counterattack, but his shot went straight into Razak 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.
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Just 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 central defender Joseph Aidoo and landed perfectly on 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.
Three minutes after the hour mark, Andre Ayew shot the Black Stars 2-1 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 Andre Ayew up for his second goal of the day to bring the score to 4-1 before substitute Caleb Ekuban closed things off with a final goal on an assist from Owusu.
The games are part of Black Stars’ preparations for the resumption of the 2022 Africa Cup of Nations qualifiers in November, where Ghana will face Sudan in a double match.
Akonnor made five changes to their starting lineup yesterday.
