Soccer- Ghana trounce Angola 5-0 in group A

Accra (Greater Accra), 25 Feb. '99 -

Ghana's Black Satellites scored an impressive 5-0 win over Angola in their second group A Africa under-20 soccer championship match played at the Accra Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday night. By the victory, Ghana, did not only become the first country to qualify for the semi-finals and for Nigeria '99 next April but also the team to score the highest number of goals so far in the tournament. They top their group with six points from two matches, having beaten Mali 1-0 in the opening match on Sunday. On the other hand, Angola, having lost their two matches became the first team to be shown the exit. Their third match with Mali on Saturday will only be a formality. Cameroon are second with four points from two games. The Satellites opened their floodgates with a 29th-minute spot-kick, converted by defender Issah Abdul Rahman after striker Owusu Afriyie had been brought down in the penalty area. Angolan midfieder Andre Mateus who, elbowed central defender Kofi Amoako, was shown the red card in the 39th minute but the Satellites waited till after the break to increase the tally. Inside left Skelley Adu Tutu went through the Angolan defence from a one-two move with Afriyie to tap the ball over the on-rushing goalkeeper Mamona Joao Luis for the second goal in the 51st minute

After the goal, coach Guisseppe Dossena brought on Awuley Quaye Jnr, for Johnson Eklu (55th), Theophilus Amuzu for Abdul Razak (69th) and Issah Mohhamed for Baffour Gyan in the 77th minute. Incidentally, all the three substitutes scored a goal each. Awuley Quaye in a characteristic fashion, delivered a 25- metre shot into the far right corner of the net in the 78th minute for Ghana's third goal. Amuzu and Mohammed made it 4-0 and 5-0 in the 83rd and 89th minutes respectively for the Satellites. After the goals, the fluent-playing Angolans launched a last minute attack but the Satellites defenders thwarted all their attempts at goal.

Owusu Afriyie was adjudged the best player of the match and received a ghetto blaster donated by LG Electronics. Coach Dossena said after the match that: "The boys played better in this match than against Mali especially in the second half but all I want is to get to Nigeria '99". Meanwhile Ghana is leading the fair play chart in group A. According to CAF technical report, the Satellites lead by 9.75 points followed by Mali with 9.71, Angola, 8.28 points and Cameroon 4.75points.

Line up Ghana: Sammy Adjei, George Blay, Hamza Mohammed, Kofi Amoako, Issa Abdul Rahman, Abdul Razak/Theophilus Amuzu, Owusu Afriyie, Laryea Kingston, Baffour Gyan/Issah Mohammed, Skelly Adu Tutu and Johnson Eklu/Awuley Quaye. Angola: Mamona Joao Luis, Refato Baptista, Manuel Ferreira/Antonio Miranda, Comes Makuntima, Francisco Monteiro, Antonio Jose Da Silva, Mateus Andrea, Hermenegildo Joaquim, Morais Paulo, Agost Morais Sebastiao/Flavio Da Silva, Pedro Taveres Pereira. Scorers: Ghana: Issah Abdul Rahman (29), Skelly Adu Tutu (51), Awuley Quaye Jnr (78), Theophilus Amuzu (83), Issah Mohammed (89).