New Delhi: Two-time champions Ghana began their FIFA U-17 World Cup campaign with a 1-0 victory over Colombia in a Group A match here Friday.
Sadiq Ibrahim scored the all-important goal as Ghana ran away with three full points in the tournament opener at the Jawaharlal Nehru Stadium.
The match did not rise to any great heights with not many attempts at the goal from either side. Good moves were few and far in between.
It was however, end-to-end stuff with Colombia slightly dominating initially before Ghana stamped their authority as the match went on.
Colombia were doing most of the attacking in the first half and had more possession. They initiated their attacks mostly from the left with winger Brayan Gomez having a couple of shots on the Ghana goal which custodian Danlad Ibrahim saved easily.
However, as the game progressed, Ghana looked the more dangerous side and took the lead with Ibrahim connecting with a fine cross from the left by captain Eric Ayiah in the 39th minute. It was a defensive sloppiness on the part of the Colombians and their captain and centre- back Thomas Gutierrez who allowed the low cross to go past him goal for Ibrahim to fire home with a low shot.
Colombia coach Orlando Restrepo replaced an ineffective Gomez by Deiber Caicedo at half time but his side’s fortunes did not change much.
However, it was Ghana who did most of the attacking in the second session. Eric himself had a fine try at the Colombia goal in the 73rd minute but goalie Kevin Mier came out of his line in the nick of time to have a last touch and negated the move.
Second half substitute Caicedo had Colombia’s best chance of the match in the 80th minute as he was set free at the edge of the Ghana box but his low right-footed grounder beat the goalkeeper but went out inches off the left upright.
Press trust of India
