Christian Atsu scored twice as Ghana qualified for the semi-finals of the 2015 African Cup of Nations after a comfortable 3 nil win over Guinea on Sunday.
The winger finished clinically after latching onto a back-heeled pass from Andre Ayew and doubled his tally in the second half with a beautiful curling effort after he cut in from the right.
Cambridge United striker, Kwesi Appiah had put the Black Stars 2-0 up with a good finish after capitalising on a defensive error from the Guinean defence on the stroke of half-time.
The match ended on a sour note after Guinea keeper Yattara was sent off for a terrible challenge on Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan.
Ghana will now face the hosts Equatorial Guinea in the semi-final on Thursday after they beat Tunisia in controversial circumstances on Saturday.
The Black Stars started brightly and were rewarded in the 4th minute after wonderful play from Kwesi Appiah and Andre Ayew set up Atsu for the finish.
The Guineans struggled to create clear-cut chances and were shaky in defence but looked to be heading in a goal down but shot themselves in the foot as centre-back Baissama Sankoh’s attempted clearance fell to Kwesi Appiah who finished.
In the second half, the Guineans started well with captain Traore, who had been quiet in the first half growing into the game.
However, the Stars remained largely untroubled in the half and began to create chances of their own.
The third goal came when Atsu controlled a long pass out on the right side, beat his marker and curled an outrageous effort into the top corner.
Guinea were all but out of it at that point but sunk deeper when keeper Yattara who had been living on the edge after picking up a booking in the first half for a push on Atsu, was sent off in the last minute.
He charged out of this box and took out Asamoah Gyan, catching the Ghanaian captain who was chasing a pass, with his studs.
His tackle sparked a mini brawl on the pitch between the opposing players but despite a bad miss from substitute Rabiu who fired over from close range from the resulting free-kick, Ghana made it through comfortably to the semis.
Ghana starting XI vs Guinea: Razak Brimah, Harrison Afful,Baba Rahman, Jonathan Mensah, John Boye, Afriyie Acquah, Mubarak Wakaso, Andre Ayew, Christian Atsu, Asamoah Gyan, Kwesi Appiah
Guinea XI: Yattara, Sankoh, Paye, Fofana, Camara, Conte, Cissé, Constant, Sylla, Razzagui Camara, Traoré.
Ghana v Guinea as it happened:
We’re underway.Ghana will be looking for a good start and they almost get it as Appiah charges down a clearance but it goes out . #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
2 mins: Jonathan Mensah blocks of Sylla who goes down but no sympathy from the referee. Wakaso then brings down Traore. Foul. #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
5 mins: What a start!!! Kwesi Appiah with a good run and he finds A. Ayew who backheels it to @ChristianAtsu20 who finds the net. #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
Ghana looking extremely dangerous. @Christia Atsu takes on a defender on the right. He beats him but his cross is cleared #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
8 mins: Ghana controlling the game in the middle of the park. Nice passes until Wakaso punts it out of play. #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
10 mins: Guinea freekick is hit stright into the sidenetting. They need to do better than that if they want to get back in this #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
12 mins: Ayew’s long ball for Appiah is overhit nut Ghana have started this game brightly #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
14 mins:Guinea struggling to keep possession and are resorting to fouls to get anywhere near the ball.Wakaso’s free-kick is poor. #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
16 mins: A speculative strike from Guinea rolls well wide. A bit desperate from the Guineans as they look to respond #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
18 mins:Half chance for Guinea as Constant is put through on the left. His cross finds Sylla on the edge of the box. Poor finish #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
Ghanaian fans are making their voices heard at the stadium. Can you blame them as their side is a goal up. #AFCON2015 pic.twitter.com/04iFbk3Xm6 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
23 mins: Another free-kick for Wakaso in a promising position. But again it is poor and goes well over #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
Robust challenge from Afriyie Acquah but it was a good one. The Black Stars players seem up for this #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
25 mins: Another free-kick for Ghana as Cisse’s foot is judged to be high. Better delivery? #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
26 mins: Jonathan Mensah takes it this time and goes for goal. Takes a nick off the top of the wall and goes over. Wasn’t spotted #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
29 mins:Rahman is dispossessed high up the pitch and Guinea counter but Wakaso flies across to cover leaving Traore on the floor #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
32 mins: Another free-kick for Ghana. Better delivery from Wakaso and Boye in the box fails to make contact and it goes out #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
33 mins: Guinea goalkeeper Yattara gets a Yellow card for a push on @ChristianAtsu20 off the ball. Signs of frustration #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
36 mins: Very comfortable for Ghana at the moment. Nine minutes from the break #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
39 mins: K. Appiah finds Gyan with a good pass. Gyan shoots but straight into the arms of the keeper.Guineans wanted offside #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
41 mins: Guinea captain A. Traore runs at the Ghanaian defence. Tries a one-two on the edge of the box but the move breaks down #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
43 mins: GOOOOOOOOAAAALLL Kwesi Appiah makes it two #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
44 mins: Terrible mistake from the Guinean defence as the defender miskicks a clearance straight at Appiah who finishes easily #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
HT: GHANA 2-0 GUINEA #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
Players on for the second half. We kick-off #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
48mins: A long way back for Guinea in this second half and they attack early but a header goes wide #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
Freekick for GHana in a wonderful position Gyan’s eyes light up #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
Hits the wall and it is cleared by the Guinean defence. #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
55 mins: Ghana want more goals and come forward. Another free-kick on the left. cross is cleared to Acquah who fires wide #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
57 mins: Armand Traore wins a free-kick for Guinea on the edge of the Ghana box. Rahman the culprit. But he hits it well over #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
60 mins: Baba Rahman in a tangle with Traore who was pulling his shorts. He responds with a slight push. Tensions rising here #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
WHAT A GOAL!!!!! @ChristianAtsu20 #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
60 mins: WONDERFUL goal from @ChristianAtsu20. Controls out on the left, beats his man and curls a beauty over the keeper #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
65 mins: Ghana have been brilliant and the performance was mirrored by that stunner from @ChristianAtsu20 #AFCON2015 pic.twitter.com/vto2FvI0Zx — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
71 mins: Guinea look down and out in this one. A Gyan header goes over #AFCON2015 pic.twitter.com/xMoWGBt068
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
A bit of panic in the Ghanaian box as Brimah misjudjes a cross The forward then makes a mess of it and hits it wide #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
Frank Acheampong is on for @ChristianAtsu20 . All in a day’s work for the Everton winger. #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
As things stand Ghana will face Eq.Gui the semis of the AFCON. You can probably safely book a place on the couch for that one #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
Rabiu comes on for Afriyie Acquah and the Black Stars will look to see this one out. #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
Avram Grant will be pleased with this display. Guinea threaten but Boye deals with the danger #AFCON2015 pic.twitter.com/qaZe3Ai6Qi — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
RED CARD for Guinea keeper Yattara as he takes out @ASAMOAH_GYAN3 with a dreadful challenge. He is in some pain Gyan #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
.@AyewAndre with the free-kick. #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
FT GHA 3-0 GUI Bad miss from Rabiu. A brilliantly worked free-kick from Ayew as he fakes to shoot and passes to Rabiu who misses #AFCON2015
— 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
FT: GHANA 3-0 GUINEA #AFCON2015 — 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015
By: Nana Boakye-Yiadom and Edwin Kwakofi/citifmonline.com/Ghana