Thu, Oct 15, 2009 page18

• Ghana and Brazil reach U-20 Cup final

  INJURY WORRY Ghana captain Andre Ayew may miss the final after limping off in their semi-final against Hungary, who were missing playmaker Vladimir Koman

  • AP
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  Ghana beat Hungary 3-2 to set up an Under-20 World Cup final against Brazil, who won 1-0 against Costa Rica in Tuesday’s other semi-final.

  Tournament topscorer Dominic Adiyiah scored twice for Ghana’s Black Satellites, while Alan Kardec’s second-half goal breached Costa Rica’s rigid defense in a scrappy match in which Brazil did not show their customary flair.

  Ghana will attempt to become the first African team to win the competition, while Brazil are aiming to win it for the fifth time tomorrow. Ghana lost previous finals to Brazil in 1993 and to Argentina in 2001.

  

  Marko Futacs of Hungary reacts at the end of their FIFA U-20 World Cup semi-final against Ghana in Cairo on Tuesday.

  PHOTO: REUTERS

  Ghana’s slick attack compensated for a shaky defense once more, with Adiyiah taking his tournament tally to eight goals.

  Hungary rallied from 2-0 down and threatened in the second half but missed playmaker Vladimir Koman, who was suspended.

  Ghana captain Andre Ayew limped off in the second half and had an ice pack tied to his right ankle after the match.

  

  Brazil’s Rafael dives during their semi-final against Costa Rica at the FIFA U-20 World Cup in Cairo on Tuesday.

  PHOTO: EPA

  Costa Rica defended resolutely in the first half and almost scored on a rare attack only for Brazil goalkeeper Rafael to make a spectacular leaping save to keep out David Guzman’s powerful shot.

  Brazil increased the pressure after the break, and Kardec punished some slack marking when he was left unmarked at the back post and thumped in a shot from a tight angle past goalkeeper Esteban Alvarado in the 67th minute.

  Costa Rica coach Ronald Gonzalez was proud of his side’s effort.

  “When you play against Brazil, you can’t just play [freely] and take every chance. You have to be mindful of who you are playing,” Gonzalez said. “This was a good performance after two tough games.”

  Adiyiah’s brace put Ghana 2-0 up by half-time, before Marko Futacs brought Hungary back into the match in the 73rd minute.

  Abeiku Quansah restored Ghana’s two-goal lead in the 81st, but Adam Balajti scored in the 84th.

  “The first half we were really, really poor and I don’t know what the reason was,” Hungary goalkeeper Peter Gulacsi said. “When you concede three goals, of course you’re disappointed, but I think we had our chances to equalize.”

  Gulacsi said Koman’s absence was keenly felt.

  “We missed him as a player and as a leader on the pitch,” Gulacsi said.

  Ghana’s first goal came in the 10th minute, when Ayew intercepted a poor back pass and skipped round Gulacsi to provide Adiyiah with a tap-in. Adiyiah added another in the 31st when he headed in Samuel Inkoom’s cross from the right.

  Ayew says he twisted his ankle making the goal, and is unsure whether he will recover in time to face Brazil.
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