Lowly-ranked Comoros stops Black Stars in barren draw

Ghana failed to break down a plucky Comoros side in a 0-0 draw of the second qualifying round first leg tie on Friday in Moroni.

The Black Stars put up a stirred up second half performance and struck the side post twice in dying minutes.

But Comoros could have carried the day after referee Norman Matemera disallowed a header that looked to be onside after television replay.

The hosts started well and could have snatched the lead under five minutes.

Midfielder Halifa Soule struck from long range and it needed a Razak Brimah fingertip save which directed the ball to hit the side post for a corner kick in the fourth minute.

Afriyie Acquah delivered a perfect diagonal pass to Afful who had made the run into the box but the right-back was spotted in an offside position on 18 minutes.

Jordan profited from a Baba Rahman run and lifted the ball to smash in a volley which was blocked.

Andre Ayew failed to prod in a powerful cross from the right in one of those slow build up plays by the visitors.

The Black Stars turned on the screws with five minutes left on the clock as Solomon Asante broke down the right and wriggled his way into the box.

The TP Mazembe man delivered a low cross but it was cleared out.

Just before the break, Afful came close to opening the scoring but his effort was just some few metres high.

The Columbus Crew man played a one-two with Acquah and the wing-back raced like a hare to strike powerfully but it was rising despite goalkeeper Ben Boina completely beaten.

Ghana upped the tempo and the substitution worked to perfection as Emmanuel Agyemang Badu and David Accam changed the complexion of the match.

The return leg will be played in Kumasi next Tuesday with the winner advancing to the third qualifying round which will involve 20 teams put into five groups of four.