Gyan keeps Ghana’s hopes alive: Ghana 1 – Algeria 0

The Black Stars captain had the last laugh as he stole himself in behind the Algerian defence with blistering pace and coolly slot in in injury time to give his side a deserved win on Friday in Mongomo.

Ghana were pinned into their own half from the start as Algeria bossed the game with their sleek style of football.

The tournament favourites where however very much limited to playing around the tight Ghanaian defence which appeared to be in no mood to give anything away.

Goalkeeper Razak Braimah was smart enough to play the ball into touch after his poor first touch almost gave him away after just four minutes.

Algeria got their first real sniff at goal on the 20th minute mark but Nabil Bentaleb’s final shot after an inviting cutback was always veering away from goal.

Afriyie Acquah – Ghana’s busiest player on the pitch – was lucky to have escaped a caution after a nasty lunge on Yacine Brahimi. The Parma midfielder however got booked for a harmless challenge for a loose ball three minutes later.

Tempers flared in the 30th minute when Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu furiously held the shirt of Ishak Belfodil in protest of a rash challenge. Both players received warnings from referee Koman Coulibaly with bookings received.

Ghana were now beginning to come into the game with Harrison Afful delivering a sweet cross in the 38th minute. But the alert Madjid Bougherra nicked the ball off the head of the predating Asamoah Gyan to save his side.

Gyan who only passed a late fitness test to start for the Black Stars almost scored on the stroke of halftime but his shot hit his own teammate – Christian Atsu – who was running into space.

Madjid Bougherra then got booked in virtually the last piece of action of the half for a bad challenge on Acquah. Ghana looked livelier at the start of the second half and created a fine opportunity just two minutes into the restart.

Jordan Ayew had cut in from the edge of the box but his final shot at goal was too feeble to trouble Rais Mblolhi in goal. Ghana almost took the lead in the 52nd minute after Harrison Afful sent in a cross which was headed teasingly towards goal by Asamoah Gyan.

But the strike lacked the curl it needed to produce the opener. Christian Atsu was now beginning to have a significant impact on the game with his swift movement and dribbles. Avram Grant surprisingly pulled off Acquah in the 56th minute for Mubarak Wakaso.

The Parma man probably taken off for being on a yellow card and being very committed to the midfield battles. Ishak Belfodil was also withdrawn by Algeria coach Christian Gourcuff for Islam Slimani.

The Black Stars were well on top and should have scored in the 62nd minute.

Andre Ayew took on and beat Faouzi Ghoulam to deliver a cross which was back-heeled goal-wards by his younger brother Jordan but the connection wasn’t perfect and rose agonizingly over the bar.

The game was opening up to set up a nice duel with Algeria also coming close to scoring in the 66th minute but Bentaleb’s drove was always going wide.

Ghana got another chance immediately with Asamoah Gyan played into space but his shot lacked the power and direction to worry Rais. Medhi Lacen was taken off for Riyad Mahrez in the 71st minute.

Andre Ayew rose furthest to head in an unexpected cross but his strike had the same jump as he to go way wide. Nabil Bentaleb was booked in the 74th minute for stopping a promising Ghanaian attack by fouling Emmanuel Agyemang-Badu.

Avram Grant then threw on Mahatma Otoo for the tiring Jordan Ayew with barely ten minutes left to play. Andre Ayew then made way for Solomon Asante for the remaining six minutes of the game.

Christian Gourcuff then withdrew Yacine Brahimi for Foued Kadir to strengthen his rear with four minutes left. Just when the match looked certainly to end in a draw Asamoah Gyan forced his way in behind the Algeria defence to tuck in and give Ghana the win.

The Black Stars lost their opening Group C game against Senegal in the dying minutes but reversed the script this time around to win it at the depth thanks to their inspirational captain.