Ghanaian quartet help Columbus Crew win Carolina Challenge Cup

Four Ghanaian players Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah, Lalas Abubakar and Edward Opoku were in action as Columbus Crew beat Minnesota United FC 2-0 on Saturday to win the Carolina Challenge Cup title.

It is the second consecutive year that the Black & Gold have won the pre-season tournament.

In the 32nd minute, Higuain volleyed a rocket to the back of Minnesota's net.

Just as the dust began to settle, Afful hit a one-touch cross that found Gyasi Zardes on the back post.

Zardes sent the ball past goalkeeper Bobby Shuttleworth just five minutes after Higuain's strike, putting Crew SC up 2-0 at the break.

The Ghanaian quartet and Columbus Crew will turn their attention to the start 2018 MLS regular season with a visit to Toronto FC.

Columbus Crew SC: Zack Steffen; Harrison Afful, Jonathan Mensah ©, Lalas Abubakar, Milton Valenzuela; Artur (Clark 75’), Wil Trapp ©; Cristian Martinez, Federico Higuain (Edward Opoku 83’), Pedro Santos (Luis Argudo 75’); Gyasi Zardes