{"id":87526,"date":"2015-02-01T15:59:23","date_gmt":"2015-02-01T15:59:23","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/4cd.e16.myftpupload.com\/?p=87526"},"modified":"2015-02-01T19:04:45","modified_gmt":"2015-02-01T19:04:45","slug":"afcon-2015-live-update-ghana-3-v-0-guinea","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/citifmonline.com\/?p=87526","title":{"rendered":"AFCON 2015: Atsu scores twice as Ghana progress to semis"},"content":{"rendered":"

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.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Cambridge United striker, Kwesi Appiah had put the Black Stars 2-0 up with a good finish after capitalising on \u00a0a defensive error from the Guinean defence on the stroke of half-time.<\/p>\n

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The match ended on a sour note after Guinea keeper Yattara was sent off for a terrible challenge on Black Stars captain Asamoah Gyan.<\/p>\n

Ghana will now face the hosts Equatorial Guinea in the semi-final on Thursday after they beat Tunisia in controversial circumstances on Saturday.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

The Guineans struggled to create clear-cut chances and were shaky in defence but looked to be heading in a goal down \u00a0but shot themselves in the foot as\u00a0centre-back Baissama Sankoh’s attempted clearance \u00a0fell to Kwesi Appiah who finished.<\/p>\n

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In the second half, the Guineans started well with captain Traore, who had been quiet in the first half growing into the game.<\/p>\n

However, the Stars remained largely untroubled in the half and began to create chances of their own.<\/p>\n

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.<\/p>\n

Guinea were all but out of it at that point but sunk deeper when keeper\u00a0Yattara 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.<\/p>\n

He charged out of this box and took out Asamoah Gyan, catching the Ghanaian captain who was chasing a pass, with his studs.<\/p>\n

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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.<\/p>\n

Ghana starting XI vs Guinea:\u00a0<\/strong> Razak Brimah,\u00a0Harrison Afful,Baba Rahman,\u00a0Jonathan Mensah,\u00a0John Boye,\u00a0Afriyie Acquah,\u00a0Mubarak Wakaso,\u00a0Andre Ayew,\u00a0Christian Atsu,\u00a0Asamoah Gyan,\u00a0Kwesi Appiah<\/p>\n

Guinea XI: <\/strong> Yattara, Sankoh, Paye, Fofana, Camara, Conte, Ciss\u00e9, Constant, Sylla, Razzagui Camara, Traor\u00e9.<\/p>\n

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Ghana v Guinea as it happened:<\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

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<\/a> \u2014 97.3 Citi FM (@Citi973) February 1, 2015<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n