Ghana (5) v (5)* Afghanistan

   

By Tim Beissmann
 
In no doubt the biggest match of the tournament to date, Afghanistan triumphed 3-2 over Ghana in a heart-stopping penalty shoot-out, after the full time scores stood at five-all, guaranteeing them a place in the Homeless World Cup Final.
 
For ten minutes before the match started, a huge Afghani crowd were chanting "A-F-G! A-F-G!", while the Ghanaian players sung their own tunes while waiting in the wings.
 
And the strong Afghani crowd did not have to wait long to rise from their seats, with star striker Sayeed Reza sneaking the opener past the keeper in the first minute of play.
 
Scores were tied not long after when Nicholas Takyi Ofosu slammed a volley into the back of the net from a pin-point cross, and doubled up in the fourth minute when a turnover came his way at the top of the D.
 
The Ghanaian keeper was in fine form, denying some big strikes from Mustafa and Sayed Qasem and pulling off what must have been the save of the tournament in the final minute of the half, diving full stretch to his left to drag back a certain goal.
 
With a 2-1 half time lead, Ghana looked to consolidate their lead in the second, but it was Mustafa for Afghanistan who had other ideas, receiving a textbook pass through the D to drop it comfortably home.
 
Ghana were quick to reply in the second minute, Richard Storm Saban rewarded a goal despite controversy that he may have been inside the keeper's D, and the outraged abuse of the Afghani fans.
 
Down by a goal, Afghanistan showed their class and understanding as a well drilled side, putting through another two in almost identical fashion to their first of the half to take the lead with four minutes remaining.
 
As the rain came down, the Ghanaians needed a quick reply, and their hero was again Ofosu who sent home his third.
 
At 4-all with three-and-a-half to go, play tightened up and defence was a higher priority than attack for both sides.
 
Two minutes passed with no score added, and then in the final minute a wild strike from Mustafa pinballed around the goal-mouth and trickled in.
 
The Afghani crowd was going insane, sensing victory, and knowing with less than a minute to go their men could possess the ball and hold on for the win.
 
But a surge from the Ghanaians in the final five seconds resulted in a miracle goal that had the crowd in palpitations and sent the match to a shoot-out.
 
Prince Boadu was Ghana’s first man to step up to the line, but his shot was snaffled by a diving keeper.
 
Reza had the chance to seal the game but his shot was saved too. 
 
Ofosu had the second kick and put it home, only to be followed by Mustafa, who converted his.
 
Saban was the third Ghanan kick taker, and was heartbroken as he saw his shot sail wide right off his boot.
 
It was all up to the laconic Qasem, who dribbled the ball to the D, waited for the keeper to make his move, then calmly chipped over him to take his country to the Homeless World Cup Final.
 
The victory scenes were remarkable. 100 fervent Afghani fans, most with their shirts off, charged down to the walls of the pitch to embrace their team.
 
Afghanistan now head to the final tomorrow where they will take on Russia for a piece of Homeless World Cup history.