Olympic Qualifier: Ghana Beat South Africa

....Ghana Must Beat Zambia To Qualify
Razak Pimpong, the Danish-based striker, scored twice to put Ghana just one win away from a place at the Olympic Games in Athens in August.

Consequently, the South African under-23 national soccer team, Amaglug-Glug, have not qualified for the Athens Olympics

There was no score at half-time in the game played at Mamelodi in the outskirts of Pretoria on Saturday.

In wet slippery conditions and both teams playing with 10 men after South African defender, Edward Malinga, and Ghana's, Addo Ishmael, were shown a red card in the 31st minute, it was the visitors who got the breakthrough.

A defensive mix-up allowed Pimpong to score the opening goal in the 46th minute but Benedict Vilakazi ? named man of the match ? levelled matters for the home side in the 52nd minute.

However, the joy was short lived when Razak scored his brace in the 71st minute.

The meteors, who beat Amaglug-Glug 1-0 in Accra last year October, now lie second in Group D with 10 points from five games.

Zambia, also with 10 points, beat Algeria 4-2 in another second leg qualifier on Saturday occupy first position in the group by virtue of a better goal difference.

Amaglug-Glug are last in Group D with a mere three points from their five games with their only win being a 4-1 drubbing of Algeria last December.

Zamba travel to Ghana for their final qualifier on March 27 and will need just a draw to go through, while Ghana, with home advantage must win to take top place in the group and one of the four berths reserved for Africa at the tournament

The game will be a repeat of Zambia's qualification for Seoul when they defeated the Ghanaians in Accra and qualified for the first time. South Africa (4-5-1): Harpur; Mhlangu, Spencer, Malinga, Christian; Makhanya (Leremi 65), Schalkwyk, Vilakazi, Mofokeng, Mngomeni (Botha 81); Khanyeza.

Ghana (4-5-1): M Alhassan; Pantsil, Pappoe, Coleman, Villars; Pinpong, I Alhassan (Owusu-Ansah 78), Chibsah, Oduro, Taylor (Osei 62); Addo.

Yellow Cards: I Alhassan 42.


Red Cards: Addo 32, Malinga 32.


Referee: Jose Antonio De Sousa (Angola).

Assistants: Luciano Manuel Antonia (Angola), Pedro Canombo (Angola).


Estimated attendance: 3 000.

 Standings    P W D L F A Pts  
 1. Zambia    5 3 1 1 7 4 10 
 2. Ghana     5 3 1 1 5 2 10 
 3. Algeria   5 2 0 3 5 10 6 
 4. S. Africa 5 1 0 4 6 6  3