Big Win For Satellites, But...

The national U-20 team, the Black Satellites, in a superb attacking frenzy, last night hammered the USA 4-1 to re-establish Ghana's football dominance over the Yankees as they look forward to qualification for the next round of the 2013 World Cup in Turkey. But it was victory with hardly any celebrations as the Satellites must have to wait until the weekend when all the group matches are cleared to determine their fate. In a thrilling showdown at the Kadir-Has Stadyum in the Turkish City of Kayseri, it was the sublime strike of Ebenezer Assifuah, together with another one which earned him a brace, and two others from Frank Acheampong and substitute Kenedy Ashia which produced a face-saving victory for the Ghanaians in an ailing World Cup campaign. The Satellites launched into an early assault but Assifuah's bicycle kick on the seventh minute at close range was stopped by goalkeeper Cody Cropper of the USA, while a freekick on the tip of the box was flighted over the crossbar by Moses Odjer six minutes later. Assifuah's header in the box on the 17th minute also missed the target as the Ghanaian tried to deploy deadly arsenals into the American side of the field, and on the 19th minute Frank Acheampong's surging run almost yielded the first goal but was robbed by a timely save by goalkeeper Cropper. With a sizable support mounted by Turkish fans in the fray, Ghana was on song, but in the 26th minute, the Americans reacted to the promptings of the Ghanaians. Miguel Lopez made a light work of Raymond Nketsiah in the area of the Satellites but Mario Rodriguez's connection failed to beat goalkeeper Antwi. The Satellites went back into the fray and on the 38th minute they proved irresistible this time as Acheampong managed to squeeze the ball into the net from a sticky goalmouth action to the delight of the crowd. The goal-hungry Satellites resumed the second half full of fight and Assifuah was again unlucky to tuck the ball into the net on the 48th minute. Boakye Yiadom, who was having troubles dealing with skipper Caleb Stanko, missed a glorious opportunity after he was beckoned in the box by a Baba Rahman pass, but he volleyed away from target. However, three minutes later Assifuah produced a class act when after galloping on a pass, curled into an acute angle for the second goal for the Satellites. The Americans burst in return and in a spirited midfield display that saw Jose Villarez and Luis Gil, the Satellites were limited to their half until they earned a corner which was superbly converted by Shane O'nel. With the American threat still looming, Satellites� Coach Sellas Tetteh, pulled out Boakye Yiadom for Kennedy Ashia and two minutes later Assifuah secured a brace when he glanced a header into the net. However, the greatest yield of the substitution which brought Ashia into action emerged on the 82nd minute when he fired a low grounder to secure the Satellites fourth goal, but the expected celebrations were muted because there was no certainty immediately about qualification for the next stage.