HISTORY -MAKING GHANA QUALIFIES FOR THEWORLD CUP 2010 QUARTERS

Finally after 120 pulsating minutes, Ghana moved into the World Cup quarterfinals for the first time in her history.Ghana have thus equaled a similar record achieved by Cameroun in 1990 and Senegal in 2002.
The Black Stars achieved the victory over The Stars and Stripes through spectacular strikes by Germany-reject Prince Kevin Boateng in the 5th minute while World Cup Golden Boot contender ,Asamoah Gyan, rocked the American net with his scorcher in the 2nd minute of extra time.The Yanks had their goal via a penalty expertly taken by talisman,Landon Donovan in the 62nd.
It was indeed a tale of two halves and lived up to its pre-match billing.Prior to the match media hype was that the USA intended to avenge the 2-1 loss to their counterparts at the FIFA World Cup in Germany,four years ago.In fact Stephen Appiah's penalty which knocked the Americans out of the World Cup was a sore point.So the stage was set for an epic battle and both sides were ready!
Ghana,in red,totally dominated the first half while ,the Americans owned the second half.Just after 5 minutes,disaster struck the Americans.Kwadjo Asamoah dispossessed Ricardo Clark in midfield, set up Kevin Boateng ,who breezed past the gawking American defence and dragged his carpet shot wide of the despairing dive of Tim Howard into the net for the opener.
Needless to say this superb goal unsettled the white-jerseyed Americans who have a habit of giving away early goals[Group C opponents,England and Slovakia]. From then on Ghana did as they pleased with the ball piling pressure on the American defence without increasing their tally.
However again composure deserted the Yanks when speedster Robbie Findley failed to put away a golden chance when in the clear.Kingston came to Ghana's recue with a stuck-out left foot to deny the Yanks.
Kwadjo Asamoah who left Demerit in his wake had his connection firmly smothered by Howard who also came up big with a couple of other saves.
A totally different picture payed out after the interval for the Yanks with the introduction of midfielders Maurice Edu and Benny Feilhaber. These sublime players made all the difference and the tables turned with Ghana increasingly on the backfoot. It was a surprise though that 19 year old defender Jonathan Mensah was penalized for clearing from a marauding Clint Dempsey.That penalty was indeed controversial just like Ghana's four years ago.Landon Donovan wrong footed Richard Kingston in converting the penalty.His kick caressed the inside post before settling in the net.
In one of their surging runs, a pass from midfield found Jozy Altidore,whose delayed reaction kick just veered wide off the Ghana back post with both Kingston and captain Mensah committed.Earlier on Michael Bradley had beaten the offside trap but his limp shot was easily cradled by Kingston.
America continued to press their advantage with the addition of Herculez Gomez but it was the Ghanaians who benefited in the 2nd minute of extra time.Carlos Bocanegra challenged Asamoah Gyan after a lofted midfield pass but while the striker was still off-balance ,he struck in a thunderbolt left footer that Tim Howard could only claw at. That goal deflated American hopes of taking the day and Ghana took possession of the game until full time,with Andre Ayew strutting his stuff allover the field much to American discomfort.
Maurice Edu's teary face ,the deeply-disappointed eyes of Coach Bradley and Donovan's bowed down head told it all,while the animated dance by Asamoah Gyan and diminutive AnthonyAnnan summed up Ghanaian and African emotions.
However the pictures that will stay with me forever are the ones on both sides of the match. The first was a frontal of Kingston in prayer with outstretched arms imploring God for mercy.The second was at the end with the shot from his back with outstretched arms in thankful prayer with Ghana flags dancing in the background.He knew what mercies he had received.... the race is not to the swift...