Ghana have missed the opportunity to end their 30 year trophy drought. The Black Stars of Ghana crashed out after a solitary goal by Mayuka. The Black Stars would now compete for for the third place on Saturday. 90 + 5’ The referee blows the whistle for Full Time. 90 + 3’ This is frantic! Ghana are attacking like men possessed, Zambia are defending like Trogans!
90 + 1’ We will have four minutes of injury-time! 90’ Close! Vorsah seems set to score but his goal-bound effort is blocked by Zambian defenders! They were queuing up there! 89’ Ghana need to launch the ball forward into the Zambian half . .. Himoonde does well to recover after initially losing the ball to Muntari. Great recovery. 88’ Nkausu concedes a soft corner, will he be made to pay … no, Zambia clear. They have been excellent in defence today. 87’ Ghana Substitution: Sulley Muntari replaces Andre Dede Ayew 86’ Another corner for Ghana … they are pressing … oh dear, that is a really poor delivery from Asamoah.
84’ Well, Ghana now down to 10 men. Everything is stacked in Zambia's favour! 84’ Derek Boateng (Ghana) is sent off. 83’ Corner to Ghana . .. Zambia break and cynical challenge from Boateng and he will be off! 82’ – Great break by Zambia ends in Kalaba's shot, but it is straight at Kwarasey. They look confident now! 80’ Ghana look to hit back straight away as Andre Ayew crosses, but Mweene just gets a hand there ahead of Jordan Ayew. What a great finish we have! 82’ Great break by Zambia ends in Kalaba's shot, but it is straight at Kwarasey. They look confident now!
78’ Emmanuel Mayuka (Zambia) scores! 75’ Gyan is off and it has not been his day. Tagoe is an excellent replacement though.
74’ Ghana Substitution: Prince Tagoe replaces Asamoah Gyan 73’ In the four matches that Mensah has played in this tournament he has scored two goals, been sent-off and limped off injured twice. Eventful!
72’ Ghana Substitution: Isaac Vorsah replaces John Mensah 70’ Looks like Mensah will have to go off, he was a doubt coming into this game and looks as though he has succumbed to his injury niggle 70’ Isaac Chansa (Zambia) is cautioned. 69’ As I type that Mweene comes to collect again and misses, Gyan has a header that he cannot direct on target. Big chance!
68’ Ghana with a corner . ..Mweene punches clear again. he has been magnificent today. 67’ This time it is Zambia with the free-kick and Sunzu cannot direct his effort on target. Goal-kick.
66’ Zambia Substitution: Chisamba Lungu replaces Francis Kasonde 66’ Mweene saves easily from a Gyan shot, it was a tight angle, but the keeper was comfortable in the end.
63’ Derek Boateng (Ghana) is cautioned. 62’ Ghana have an excellent free-kick chance to the right of the penalty-area. Mweene punches behind but it is given as a goal-kick. Strange.
59’ Andre Ayew steals the ball off Musonda and races into the area, but his shot is blocked. Maybe a pass would have been a better option .
55' Corner for Zambia, cleared by Ghana 55’ Ghana are looking by far the more dangerous side once again. They are camped in the Zambian half, but so far Chipolopolo are standing firm!
53' John Boye gets a wonderful opportunity to put Ghana forward but fails to direct a free kick from Kwadwo Asamoah 52’ Stophira Sunzu (Zambia) is cautioned.
49' Jordan lets in a powerful shot but stopped by Mweene 48’ Quieter start to the half than the first. Teams just playing possession football so far. 46’ One change at the break as Chamanga is replaced by Mayuka, who had been a regular starter through this competition. we are under way again!
45' Ghana gets the second half underway in Bata
45 + 1’ The referee brings the first half to an end. 45 + 1’ We will have one minute of injury-time. 44’ Inkoom's cross is better, but Gyan cannot get his header on target. Ghana are getting so much joy on the right, something for Chipolopolo coach Herve Renard to think about at halftime.
43’ This time Inkoom shoots rather than crosses, but it was never going to trouble Mweene. 42’ Inkoom into space again on the right but his cross is poor. he has not been great with his delivery in this match so far. Too long or too short.
40’ Zambia clear after the corner drifts all the way through the box. 39’ Katongo with a foul on Boateng. He is fortunate not to get a card there. Asamoah shoots and it is deflected just wide of the post! Another Ghana corner …
36’ Second corner reaches Boye but he cannot get his shot away when well-placed. He should have done better, but Zambia scramble clear. 35’ Corner to Ghana . .. Jordan Ayew collects at the near post but his shot on the turn is blocked for another corner.
33’ Great chance Zambia! Katongo latches onto a fantastic pass but shoots wide from 12-yards. Should have hit the target at least. Really good game this!
31' Andre Ayew's superbly chipped to his brother is completely miss, what a miss 29’ Gyan shoots, but it is blocked and was going wide anyway. At the other end, Chamanga is just flagged offside in the promising position. This is end-to-end stuff now! 26’ Katongo's shot from range is blocked. Zambia have not spent much time in the Ghanaian box since the early part of the game and have been reduced to long-range shots. Ghana will be happy with that. 24’ Andre Ayew breaks on the right and gets into the penalty-area, his cut-back for Gyan is perfect but the striker scuffs his shot from 15-yards and it is easy for Mweene. Ghana are using width very well. 22’ Finally they do mount an attacking, but Sinkala's shot from range is easy for Kwarasey. 21’ Zambia are battling to get out of their half at the moment, Ghana are attacking in waves. 19’ Mweene dallies on the ball and just manages to clear with Gyan closing down on him. The Free State Stars keeper is known for high-profile mistakes, Chipolopolo fans will be hoping he is on his game today. so far, so good! 18' Another free-kick for Ghana after a foul by Sinkala . .. Asamoah breaks into the penalty-area, but the ball runs out of play. Zambia are holding on a little here. '17 Boye is booked and will miss the final if the Black Stars make it through. That will be a blow for the side because he has been excellent in this tournament. '15 John Boye (Ghana) cautioned 14' cleared by Zambia '13 Free kick, Jordan Ayew brought down on the edge of the box '12 it was a terrible penalty from Gyan, Gyan has missed important penalties before, will this be another haunting moment for him? '10 cleared by Zambia '10 Free kick to Ghana '9 Gyan misses another glorious opportunity to put Ghana ahead '7 Gyan misses the Penalty for Ghana, good save by Mweene '6 Penalty kick to Ghana '5 Second corner goes Zambia's, wasted goes out for goal kick 3' first corner of the game falls to Zambia 1' Zambia get the first half underway in Bata Defender Lee Addy has been handed his first start for Ghana in the semi-final clash against Zambia at the 2012 Africa Cup of Nations. Addy comes in for Masahudu Alhassan and is one of three changes made by Goran Stevanovic for Wednesday's game at the Estadio de Bata. Derek Boateng also starts in place of the injured Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu while Jordan Ayew comes in for Sulley Muntari. Starting line-up Adam Kwarasey, Samuel Inkoom, Lee Addy, John Mensah, John Boye, Anthony Annan, Andre Ayew, Derek Boateng, Asamoah Gyan, Kwadwo Asamoah, Jordan Ayew]]>
