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...

Ghanav USA preview[South Africa 2010]

When Ghana trot onto the field later today in Rustenberg against the USA they will be seeking to confirm their superiority over the Yanks and to uphold the only 'hope of Africa' tag in the World Cup 2010.The Yanks will on the other hand will be gunning for a sweet revenge for the 2-1 loss to the Ghanaians in the last World Cup in Germany.
Ghana who have found goal scoring tough,[they have found the net only twice in this World Cup]will be coming up against a U.S side that has abundant confidence stemming from their recent superlative performances at the Confederations Cup[trounced Egypt 3-0,stunned Spain 2-0 and just lost 3-2 against Brazil after leading 2-0 at half time]
The U.S have also comeback from a goal down against England in this World Cup to salvage a draw.In a thrilling match against Slovenia they again came back to draw 2-2 only to lose a legit Maurice Edu goal in stoppage time which could have given them a victory.
Against Algeria the USA played with heart and great spirit to move into the second round via a last minute Landon Donovan goal. All of this shows the ability of the Americans to muster patience and take a match by the scruff of the neck when all seems lost.
Will the USA be able to reproduce that spark against a Ghana side that is fond of dominating possession and sealing its defence?In the only other previous meeting ,Ghana took the lead via an opportunistic Haminu Dramani goal while the US pulled even through goal machine Clint Dempsey. Ghana sealed the victory after captain Stephen Appiah sent goalie Kasey Keller the wrong way.
The U.S. had protested that penalty award which they claim Razak Pimpong faked against defender Oguchi Onyewu.Playback did not reveal any compelling case for Ghana's penalty but the harm unfortunately had already been done and the U.S went out of Germany 2006 at the group stage, a disappointing turn of events after a quarterfinal place at the previous World Cup in Japan-South Korea.
This time it will be American grit against Ghana's composure and poise. With America bidding for another World Cup,the Stars and Stripes will be firing on all cylinders to convince skeptics about their ability and also to better their quarterfinal performance in 2002.The key for the Yanks as I see it may be Buddle and Gomez,whose goals and ball holding skills may prove crucial.
I don't see any change in Ghana's line-up but captain Stephen Appiah may come in to distribute, take tornado shots and push the warriors forward.The Black Stars of Ghana will also be driven by legend Camerounian Roger Milla's boast about how good they are and their will to die for a host continent whose other teams[Nigeria,Cameroun,LaCote d'Ivoire,Algeria and South Africa] have disappointed.
I daresay these reasons will make this a thrilling match to the finish and the team that take its chances well will come out smiling into the quarters.