U-17 ACN: Ghana 6 Eritrea 0

(By Veronica Commey, GNA Special Correspondent in Lome, Togo Courtesy Ministry of Education, Science and Sports)

Lome, March 15, GNA - Ghana's Black Starlets 6-0 drubbing of Eritrea on Wednesday booked the team a place at the next World U-17 Championship slated for South Korea later in the year.

The Starlets became the second country to make it to the second round of the ongoing African U-16 Championship in Togo.

Nigeria became the first to book one of Africa's four slots for the world fiesta after pipping Burkina Faso 2-1.

The Starlets who needed a win in the game scored twice in the first half before wrapping up the game in the second session. Ransford Osei gave his quest for the Golden Boot award a fine boast when he shot the team ahead in the second minute with a rebound. The Eritrean goalkeeper Zaratsion Yosief spilt a well taken free kick by Abeiku Quansah onto the path of Osei who required no effort to set the tone for the day.

As if stimulated by the goal, the Starlets pieced their rhythm together, knocked the ball around with ease and laced their passes with that craftiness capable of turning foes into friends.

Just when the fans were enjoying the trendy play, Quansah had other plans.

The player who was later substituted by Kelvin Owusu-Bossman was second time lucky with his free kick that curved well over the Eritrean wall to zoom straight into the net to consolidate the team's lead.

The Eritreans managed to settle well and thrilled the spectators with their occasional flashes of brilliance that unfortunately failed to take them no where.

The Starlets who appeared satisfied with the lead however returned from the recess in an aggressive mood.

Their aggression paid off less than a minute in the half when creative genius, Ishmael Yartey rammed home his third for the tournament and the team's third on the day.

The player profited from a fine set up from composed Enoch Adu from the middle.

Yartey, a leading contender for the Golden Boot award made a captivating solo run that shredded aside two defenders before delivering a smooth shot right in the middle of the net to displace goalkeeper Zeratsion who moments later made way for Kiflay Robel.

As if angered by the goal, Eritrea reacted with a counter that picked out slippery Goitom Yonatan whose' incisive header brought the best out of the Ghanaian keeper Abraham Hoenyadzi, who throughout the proceedings had tasted very little action.

Coach Osam Duodo introduced Opare Tawiah and Adams Sadick into the game for Gwala Pero and weary Nathaniel Asamoah.

Sadick whose strength appeared too much for the feeble and sick looking Eritreans overwhelmed all with a hat-trick that put him among the fore runners for the Golden Boot award.

LINE-UP Hoenyadzi Abraham, Stephen Owusu-Ansah, Paul Addo, Benjamin Owusu, Abeiku Quansah/ Kelvin Owusu-Bossman, Enoch Adu, Ransford Osei, Ishmael Yartey, Gwala Pero/ Opare Tawiah, Nathaniel Asamoah/Sadick Adams and Opoku Eric.