Ghana Black Princesses hold Defending Champions USA

Accra, July 14, GNA - Ghana Black Princesses on Wednesday proved soccer pundits wrong by drawing 1-1 with the United States of America, defending champions, at the ongoing FIFA Under-20Women's World Cup opening Group D match in Dresden, Germany.

The Princesses refused to be intimidated and drew the first blood on the seventh minute to set the USA on a serious goal-hunt, which never came until the 70th minute.

Elizabeth Cudjoe's 25-yard cannon hit the inside of the upright before settling into the net on the other side while USA equalised from a counter attack when a long ball was sent behind the Ghanaian Defence.

The reigning Champions were not ready to countenance the early set back and mounted a siege on the Princesses resulting in the first corner-kick on the 11th minute but it was wasted. The Princesses rebuffed the attack and called upon the USA Goalie to pull off a save on the 16th minute. The match entered a ding-dong stage between the 17th and the 33rd minute with both sides making frantic efforts to score.

Addo came in to replace Myles, who was feeling unwell, on the 35th minute. Faiza was yellow-carded on the 41st minute. Ghana's Goalie pulled off a save on the 43rd minute. The firs half ended with Ghana leading by 1-0.

USA brought on Hayes to replace Dimartino at the beginning of the second half. The Princesses called upon the USA Goalie to pull off a save from a well-struck free-kick on the 50th minute. USA intensified their search for the equaliser and brought on Noyola to replace Nairn on the 54th minute. The change seemed to have paid off when the USA began to send long balls to the right hand side of their attack and the Princesses Goalie was called upon to pull off a number of saves.

The Ghanaians brought on Samira to replace Cudjoe on the 67th minute and on the 70th minute the USA drew level through their Sydney Leroux, when a Princesses attack fizzled out and a long ball was sent behind the Ghanaian Defence.

The Princesses launched a series of attacks in attempts to restore their lead but all were in vain as the USA Goalie pulled off saves on the 79th; 82nd; 89th and 90+5 minutes.