AFCON Quarter-Final: Ghana vs Cape Verde [ 2 - 0 ]

GHANA  2  vs  0 CAPE VERDE
54', 95' Wakaso, 

Match Played....Full Time

February 2, 2013 4:00 PM WAT
Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium — Port Elizabeth
Referee:‬ R. Seechurn‎ 

Live Commentaries:

 

And that's game over here at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Mubarak's second half double enough to see them into the semi final of the African Cup of Nations. I'm Ben McAleer, I hope you have enjoyed goal.com's live match commentary and make sure you tune in for the second quarter final of the evening with Simon Harrison.

90′ +6

And that is Ghana into the semi final with that strike.

90′ +5

Goal Wakaso

90′ +4

Heldon takes and forces a great save from Dauda, who pushes onto the bar.

90′ +3

Great run from Carlitos wins his side a free kick in the dying embers. Babanco will undoubtedly deliver as Cape Verde push for a late equaliser.

90′ +2

Asante is picked out in space in the Cape Verde box and he gets his effort away, but it's blocked for another Ghana corner.

90′ +1

And there will be minutes of added time

90′

Into the final minutes and Badu see's a close range effort cleared expertly for a corner. More time to waste for Ghana.

89′

Substitute Boateng draws a foul late on. His experience shows and Ghana have a chance to waste some precious seconds.

87′

Yellow Card Rambé

87′

Cape Verde look to build on the pressure, but Ze Luis is pulled up for kicking Afful from close range.

85′

Ghana counter through Mubarak, who can wrap up the tie. He's through, but smashes his effort over the bar.

85′

Ghana are really struggling to keep their foot on the ball. Continuously panicking as Cape Verde pressure. It pays off and the Blue Sharks win a corner. It's flashed across goal, but strikes the referee and Ghana clear.

84′

Substitution Mohammed Rabiu Derek Boateng

84′

Another Cape Verde corner as Ze Luis wins his side a corner. Babanco delivers, but Dauda again gathers well.

82′

Cape Verde aren't throwing in the towel just yet as Djaniny powers towards goal. However, his effort is matched by Dauda and he punches wide for a corner. The ball is delivered, but the Ghana 'keeper gathers easily.

80′

Substitution Julio Tavares Rambé

80′

He delivers to the back post and it comes of Vorsah for a thrown in. Much to the dismay of the Cape Verde players, it's given as a Ghana throw in.

79′

Cap Verde win a free kick in another dangerous location. Babanco over the ball again.

78′

Substitution Christian Twasam Atsu S. Asante

78′

Babanco goes for goal from distance and his effort bounces just in front of Dauda, but it's weak and the Ghana 'keeper can hold easily.

77′

Ghana look to have rode out the Cape Verde storm and finally have their foot on the ball. Alleviating the pressure well, but you feel they need a second now to see this tie off.

75′

Babanco from just outside the 18 yard box puts his free kick across the goal, but nobody is on the end of his cross. Great ball from the Cape Verde man.

74′

Awkward clearance from Vorsah results in a Cape Verde corner. They take it short and Platini wins his side a free kick.

72′

Tavares and Babanco link up well and the former plays back for the latter, who mishits his effort over the bar.

71′

After a break in play, Dauda looks OK to carry on.

69′

The Cape Verde midfielder delivers a testing ball to the six yard box, but Dauda punches clear. The Ghana 'keeper is now down receiving treatment on his hand, strangely enough. Good excuse to waste some precious seconds with the clock ticking closer to the 70 minute mark.

68′

Yellow Card Harrison Afful

68′

Another Cape Verde free kick after Platini is fouled. Babanco to deliver.

67′

Substitution Toni Varela Djaniny

66′

A Cape Verde free kick in a dangerous position after Tavares is fouled. Heldon, perplexingly, goes for goal and the ball floats over the bar for a goal kick.

65′

Atsu's corner is cleared, but it appears there was a clash of heads in the Cape Verde box with one player from either side now needing treatment.

64′

Mubarak forces a corner for Ghana as they look to double their advantage here at Port Elizabeth.

63′

Yellow Card John Pantsil

62′

The game is very stop-start now and it's no surprise considering there have now been 29 fouls committed between the two sides.

60′

Babanco delivers into the box and Dauda punches erratically into the air. As a gaggle of players wait for the ball to drop, the referee blows for a foul on the Ghana number one, unbeknownst to Nando who screams at the official.

59′

Heldon is picked out on the left and he cuts back for Babanco. His miscues his effort and Ghana clear. Moments later Platini forces a save from Duada as the game finally springs into life.

57′

The Blue Sharks appear to realise a place in the semi final is at stake and win a free kick. Tavares is picked out in the 18 yard box by Platini, but his header across goal is cleared.

56′

Cape Verde look to instantly strike back as Heldon flashes an effort just wide.

55′

As things stand, Ghana will secure their place in the semi finals of the competition.

54′

Penalty Goal Wakaso

53′

Yellow Card Carlitos

52′

And we have a penalty here. Gyan is brought down the box by Carlitos.

51′

Substitution Ryan Mendes Platini

51′

Heldon wins himself a foul after being brought down by Mubarak. Tavares is picked out and his header is the first shot on target during the encounter. Duada holds easily, however.

49′

A quick break in play here as Ryan receives treatment after clutching his shoulder.

47′

Substitution Albert Adomah Wakaso

46′

Cape Verde earn an early free kick at the beginning of the second half around 35 yards out.

45′

And Ghana kick us off for the second half.

 

We're close to the second half kicking off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Here's hoping for some goals after the interval.

 

And that's half time here at Port Elizabeth. Nothing of real quality in the first 45. We'll be back in 15 to bring you the second half action live.

45′ +1

Atsu draws a foul from Babanco in the dying embers of the half. Pantsil delivers, but it's equivocally poor and Cape Verde clear.

45′

And there will be two added minutes at the end of the first half.

44′

As we edge closer to half time, the tempo has slowed down to a walking pace. Neither time has really gone for it thus far.

42′

Vorsah hesitates on the ball in his own box, clearly waiting for Dauda to claim. Ryan gives the Ghana defender a push in the back and concedes a free kick. A real let off for the Ghanians there.

40′

Paintsil has time and space on the right hand side and looks to play into the danger zone. Unfortunately for his Ghana teammates, he overhits his cross and the ball floats for a Cape Verde goal kick.

38′

Rabiu is walking a very thing rope now. He's just made an erratic challenge on a booking. He needs to keep a calm head or else he will be sent off.

36′

Atsu drives forward with the ball again, but Nando is on hand to deny the Ghana winger. The pairing have been the two best players on the pitch so far.

34′

It's all gone very scrappy here at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium. Really devoid of quality now.

32′

Less than 15 minutes left to go in the first half and we're still yet to see the first shot on target in the game.

31′

Tavares puts in a teasing cross along the floor, but Dauda does well to claim. For Cape Verde, meanwhile, Nando is down. The Blue Sharks could do with him not going off.

29′

And it's Carlitos that's currently receiving treatment as he clutches his shoulder on the sideline.

28′

Gyan picks up the ball on the left and delivers for the back post, only for Nando to clear. The Ghana front line are beginning to grow into this encounter as we have a brief stop in play for an injury.

27′

Yellow Card Mohammed Rabiu

26′

And Ghana win a corner after Nando heads behind. Atsu delivers, but Cape Verde clear the danger.

24′

Midway through the first half and it hasn't been particularly appealing. Ghana are looking the stronger, but it's Cape Verde's Heldon that has had the best effort of the game.

22′

Heldon cuts in from the right flank and brushes past Atsu. He manages to forge out an effort from 25 yards, but his left footed strike continues to rise and floats over the bar. Best chance of the game thus far.

21′

Ghana fail to capitalise on a Vozinha mistake. Gyan robs the Cape Verde 'keeper of the ball, but the Blue Sharks backline clear.

19′

Nivaldo does well to dig out a cross to the back post, but it's too close to Dauda who punches clear.

17′

Ghana have a free kick on the right side of the box around 35 yards out. However, Asamoah's ball to the back post has too much on it and floats out for a goal kick.

16′

Yellow Card Babanco

16′

Atsu delivers a superb cross to the back post, but Nivaldo gets back just in time to head clear. Without him, Asamoah had a free header on the Cape Verde goal.

14′

Oh dear Heldon. He has time to steady himself after Tavares' knock down, but he has too much time to think and puts his effort high and wide. Awful effort from the Cape Verde man.

12′

Ghana beginning to find some rhythm after a slow opening 10 minutes or so. Beginning to string a number of passes together, with Atus particularly impressive.

11′

Good play by Atsu as he attempts to play in Afful. The ball, unintentionally, rolls out for a Cape Verde goal kick.

10′

Atsu cuts back onto his left foot on the right flank and delivers towards the penalty spot. He looks to pick out Gyan at the back post, but compatriot Asamoah heads away and the ball rolls away for a Cape Verde throw in.

9′

Cape Verde win a free kick from 45 yards out. Nivaldo delivers, but it only finds its way into the hands of Dauda.

8′

Rabiu receives the first ticking off of the game after lunging a bit too emphatically in the midfield. Just a warning now, but surely his last.

7′

First chance of the game comes from Babanco after Tavares heads back to his compatriot. The Cape Verde midfielder, however, leans back and fires helplessly over the bar.

6′

Ah I spoke too soon. Cape Verde come away with the ball and repel the Ghanian attacking threat.

5′

Ball is currently camped in the Cape Verde half as Ghana win their third consecutive throw-in in a matter of seconds.

3′

Tavares looks to be picked out from a long ball over the back of the Ghana defence, but there is too much on the pass for the Cape Verde man and it rolls out for a goal kick.

2′

Ghana have made the brighter start this afternoon. They're the favourites to pick up the win today.

 

And we are underway. Cape Verde, kicking from left to right, get us started.

 

Not long now until kick off and the two teams are on their way out. Ghana will be playing in all white, while Cape Verde in dark blue with a very FC Basel-esque red stripe. National anthems underway, starting with Ghana.

 

And the Cape Verde bench today: 12 Fock 2 Stenio Santos 4 Ramos 7 Platini 9 Ze Luis 13 Lima 14 Gege 17 Rony 19 Pecks 21 Djaniny 22 Silva 16 Rilly

 

A quick one for each team's respective benches also. Ghana first: 1 Agyei 2 Boateng 5 Awal 6 Annan 9 Boateng 13 Akaminko 14 Asante 17 Clottey 18 Boakye 19 Mensah 22 Mubarak 12 Larsen

 

We're only 20 minutes away from kick off at the Nelson Mandela Bay Stadium: can Cape Verde spring an upset against Ghana and secure a place in the semi final of the competition?

 

And for Cape Verde: 1-Vozinha; 18-Nivaldo, 3-Fernando Varela, 6-Nando, 23-Carlitos; 5-Babanco, 15-Marco Soares, 8-Toni Varela; 10-Heldon 20-Ryan Mendes, 11-Julio Tavares.

 

First up for Ghana: 16-Fatau Dauda; 4-John Pantsil, 15-Isaac Vorsah, 21-John Boye, 23-Harrison Afful; 8-Emmanuel Agyemang Badu, 10-Albert Adomah, 11-Rabiu Mohammed, 20-Kwadwo Asamoah; 7-Christian Atsu; 3-Asamoah Gyan.

 

Good afternoon one and all and welcome to goal.com's live commentary of the quarter final African Cup of Nations encounter between Ghana and Cape Verde. I'm Ben McAleer and I'll be bringing you the starting XI's momentarily.

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