The Black Satellites of Ghana secured a priceless qualification to the finals of the U-20 Championship in Egypt with a 3-2 victory over Hungary and will play Brazil on Friday.
Brazil pipped Costa Rica 1:0 in the other semi final game Tuesday evening.
The Satellites' game against Hungary highlighted Ghana’s outstanding goal scoring abilities as well as its defensive frailties, which saw the Hungarians twice reduce a two goal deficit and pushing the game to a knife edge.
Super striker Dominic Adiyiah increased his goal tally to eight after netting two brilliant goals in the first half, but the sumptuous display by the team, at least in the first half, was well underlined.
Skipper Dede Ayew in the 10th minute capitalized on a lousy back pass from Presiger in the heart of defense, dummied goalkeeper Gulasci but his final touch needed the instinctive push by Adiyiah for Ghana’s opener.
The goal machine again headed home a superb cross on the right by Samuel Inkoom in the 31st minute for the Satellites’ second.
The Hungarians were a pale shadow of the side that beat Italy in the quarter final stage of the competition, struggling in vain to track down the swift, sublime passing game from the Satellites.
Truth be told, the Satellites had all the opportunity to bury the Hungarians in the first half, but a tale of near misses, from Skipper Dede Ayew, Adiyiah and Ransford Osei kept the chances of a dream comeback alive for the Hungarians.
After recess, the Hungarians were more predatory, and took just two minutes to register their intention for a comeback.
Gosctonyi ended his rampaging run on the right with a well struck low shot which went agonizingly wide.
Five minutes later, Balajti connected a well taken free-kick with the inside of his foot, but the wood work denied him the opportunity for a breather.
The Satellites were denied the third goal with a brilliant defensive tackle from Debreceni in the 52nd minute.
The predator Dominic Adiyiah swiftly turned defence into attack and after a blistering 30-meter run set up the most unlikely source of goal, Agyemang Badu, but the hard working midfielder with only the goalkeeper to beat, wasted too many seconds and invited a goal saving tackle from Debreceni.
The Satellites lifted their foot off the pedal and gave the Hungarians more room to operate especially on the right as Varga exploited the loophole left by the attack minded Inkoom to cause havoc midway into the half.
Varga in one of his many assaults picked up an unmarked Futacs in the six yard box and he slotted the ball past Daniel Adjei in post for the Ghanaians.
Coach Sellas Tetteh made a surprise substitution pulling out skipper Dede Ayew and bringing on back-from-suspension Opoku Agyemang.
The striker was anonymous in the game but his touch proved important in the 81st minute, setting up Abeiku Quansah who released a cracker of a shot to the roof of the net for Ghana's third goal.
The Hungarians responded quite immediately in the 84th minute through Balajti aided by a lazy challenge from David Addy in defence. The striker, fended off Addy's challenge and struck a low one for the Hungarians' second.
The last five minutes traded yet another nervy moment from the Satellites who held on to their slim lead from a determined Hungarian side.
The Satellites thus booked their third final in four appearances.
Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana
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