Ghana 6 - Egypt 1

Photo by AFP employee

Ghana hosted the first leg of their series against Egypt in Kumasi.  Asamoah Gyan (pictured, white) muffed a simple chance early on for Ghana.  Gyan soon made up for his miss by scoring off a sharp angle shot that he banged in off the far post.  Later, Michael Essien sent in a nice cross to Majeed Waris, but the header behind Egypt goalkeeper Sherif Ekramy was still kept out by the recovery dive of Ekramy.  Ghana kept pressing in attack relentlessly.  Essien made an amazing solo run, dribbling through four Egypt defenders, including Ekramy, before his pass back into space was hit hard into the shins of Egypt defender Wael Gomaa.  The ricochet landed in the net to put Ghana ahead 2-0.  Mohamed Aboutrika whipped in a fast cross off an Egyptian free kick that gave Mohamed Naguib a wide open header at the back post, but Naguib could not keep the header down.  Soon thereafter, Rashid Sumaila ran into the back of Mohamed Salah, giving Egypt a penalty kick.   Egypt converted the spot kick for 2-1.  Sulley Muntari sent in a cross off a free kick that was met by the head of Waris to restore Ghana's two-goal advantage.  The Egyptian backline were having all sorts of trouble winning the aerial battle against the smaller Ghanaians.  Ghana led 3-1 going into their dressing room.

A side volley into the turf by Muntari bounced high into the sky and came down onto the head of Gyan, whose powerful header made it 4-1 to Ghana.  Substitute Egypt goalkeeper Ahmed Elshenawi was judged to have brought down a Ghanaian attacker with his hand inside the box, although the call was very questionable as it appeared that Elshenawi only touched the ball.  Ghana converted the penalty kick for their fifth goal of the afternoon.  Late substitute Christian Atsu buried Egypt for good with a strike from twenty-two yards out that was knocked in off the post to finish the scoring.  Ghana resoundingly win 6-1 and all but clinch their berth at Brasil 2014 pending the second leg.

Goals
Ghana
Asamoah Gyan 5, 53
Wael Gomaa 22 OG
Majeed Waris 44
Sulley Muntari 72 PK
Christian Atsu 89

Egypt
Mohamed Aboutrika 41 PK

Match Reports:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/0/football/24524298
http://www.goal.com/en-us/match/124161/ghana-vs-egypt/report

Highlights:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=60bKGXrJcG8