Sulley Muntari scores first goal for Pescara

Sulley Muntari scored his first Serie A goal for Pescara in their 3-1 loss to Udinese at the Stadio Adriatico-Giovanni Cornacchia on Sunday evening.

The 32-year-old Ghanaian has played just three times since moving from Ittihad in the January transfer window. He has made one start and come off the bench twice, a total of 120 minutes of action.

He once again came off the bench in Sunday’s game as a 46th-minute substitute for Valerio Verre.

The visitors, who paraded Ghana midfielder Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu, took the lead on 20 minutes through Daniel Zapata.

Jakub Jankto doubled Udinese’s lead six minutes after halftime before Cyril Thereau made it three nil on 55 minutes.

Muntari notched his side’s goal on 83 minutes when he latched onto a ball from 20 yards, his shot sailed low into the Udinese goal.

It was Muntari’s first goal in Serie A since 2014 when he scored in a 2-0 Milan victory against Chievo on October 4.

The midfielder spent two seasons in the Gulf before returning to Italy in January.

After the debacle in Brazil which saw him evicted from the Black Stars camp alongside Kevin-Prince Boateng, Muntari apologised to the Ghana Football Federation in a letter in January ahead of the Africa Cup of Nations.

“I have reflected on what happened and I am deeply sorry and apologise to all the stakeholders in the GFA who were offended by my actions,” he wrote.

“Ghana has a special place in my heart and I will forever be indebted to my country and all the fans who have supported me from the beginning.

“I am always available to play for the Senior National Team of Ghana whenever I am invited,” he concluded.

He was not called back by coach Avram Grant for the Afcon but perhaps this new form could ensure his recall by Ghana’s new coach.