Starlets treble quest right on course

(by Veronica Commey ; GNA Special Correspondent in Lome, Togo)

Lome, March 12, GNA - Ghana's Black Starlets began their quest for a treble at the U-17 African Juvenile Championship on a bright note when they defeated Burkina Faso 3-1 in their Group B opener played at the Kegue Sports Stadium on Sunday.

The Starlets whose hope is to become the only team to have lifted the Championship thrice, scored two goals in the first half and wrapped up victory in the second half with their their goal. The Ghanaians appeared too hot for their opponents in the first half resulting with their hard work paying devidends as early as the fifth minute.

Crafty midfielder Ransford Osei gave the impressive crowd a reason to believe that a great day beckons the Starlets when he expertly rammed home a freekick from the edge of the box after he had been fouled.

Osei lifted a curler over the wall to plant the ball at the right angle of the yawning net to send the crowd chanting. The goal stimulated the boys who went contesting for every ball as they wove their passes together, created space and exhibited their skills to get the crowd behind them.

The Burkinabe's however reorganised themselves ensuring that the young Ghanaians lived dangerously for only a while.

The Starlets could however not be denied another goal as they went on to strike again just when everything seemed to be pointing towards a compost and settled Burkinabe side from the early shocker. This time round, it was creative Ishmael Yartey who solidified the team's lead.

Against the run of play, Osei was set clear from the middle but over indulgence by the player seemed to indicate that he will loss the ball but just then in antttempt to clear a hard pressed defender rather propelled the ball the way of the striker and Yartey made np mistake by sending a fierce one that kissed the net to displace goalkeeper Ouedrago Rasmane.

The Burkina side regrouped from the recess a better side and but for a brilliant save from Ghana's goalkeeper Hoenyedzi Abraham they could have pulled a goal back instantly.

They however had to wait for Yartey to school them with the act of goalscoring only nine minutes into the second session with a brace. Yartey gifted from a confusion in the Burkinabe's final territory, did a fancy solo run before squeezing ball into the net. With humiliation staring at them, the Burkinabe's lifted up their game to give them a consolation goal five minutes after the hour mark through hardworking Traore Moussa.

Line Up Ghana Hoenyedzi Abraham, Owusu Ansah Stepen, Addo Paul, Opare Tawiah /Opoku Eric, Owusu Benjamin, Quansah Abeiku/Yusif Abdul Aziz, Adu Enock, Osei Ransford/Adams Sadick, Ishmael Yartey, Gwala Pero and Nathaniel Asamoah.