Ghana reached the final of the African Youth Championship on Wednesday after beating South Africa 4-2 in fiercely-fought thrilling encounter in Kigali.

A brace-by Israeli-based striker Ransford Osei helped the Black Satellites to keep their hopes of winning their third continental U-20 trophy.

Ghana were more purposeful from the blast of the whistle as strikers Dominic Adiyiah and Osei signified the country’s determination to reach the final.

Their constant harassing of the South Africans paid off midway through the first-half after Osei left three defenders chasing his shadows before crossing for Adiyiah to tap in from close range.

Osei doubled the Black Satellites lead just before the break through a solo effort.
The Israeli-based striker switched his bag full of tricks to the left, making light work of three defenders, before unleashing a fierce which goalkeeper Ngobeni Thela failed to hold for the first time allowing the forward the chance to pounce.

But the South Africans, who were tipped as one of the favourites of the tournament after seeing off giants Nigeria in the group stage were determined not to be cowed.

A lapse in concentration from the otherwise resolute Ghana defence marshalled by Jonathan Mensah allowed the Amajita to get back into the game when they lost possession for to score after the break.

But captain Andre Dede Ayew restored Ghana’s two goal lead when he took advantage of a sloppy marking by the South African defenders to head home from inside the box for his second goal of the tournament. Adiyiah returned Osei’s favour moments later when he slalomed past three defenders before the the ball on the path of Osei to crack in his fifth of the tournament and maintain his place as the leading scorer.

Yet again the South Africans were not to be browbeaten into submission as slippery Serero Thulani scored what could be the goal of the tournament to make the score 4-2.

The midfielder spectacularly curled in from 25-yards after dispossessing Gladson Awako as goalkeeper Daniel Agyei diving effort was in vain.

A dodgy penalty decision by Sudanese referee Adbel Gadir Bard in the dying moments of the game handed the South Africans a life-line after Awako was adjudged to have brought an opponent down.

Television replays showed that it was a harsh decision on the Black Satellites.

Thulani converted the effort giving the South Africans the verve to pour in but the tired defenders of Ghana were unyielding.
Ghana will meet the winner of the game between Nigeria and Cameroon in Saturday’s final.

Source: Ghanasoccernet.com